So John McCain picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential nominee. I know nothing about her, so will suspend judgment. But she is a woman, which is fantastic. The U.S. will either have an African-American President or a female Vice-President, which is the kind of history that should have been made long ago; so kudos to McCain for his courage in making that choice.

Beyond that, there are just a few tidbits that seem to be trotted out in all the stories about Palin. She is very firmly pro-life. Unless you are a polar bear. She is in favor of domestic partnerships, although against gay marriage (which puts her in the official Democratic position). She’s been embroiled in some sort of scandal, although it’s always hard to tell at first glance how serious those things should be taken. Perhaps her signature issue, as far as national politics is concerned, is drilling for oil all over the place — she’s in favor.

One might wonder whether McCain undermines his message of the importance of experience by picking a 44-year old governor with no national experience at all. But one might wonder whether Obama undermined his message of bringing change to Washington by choosing a white male Washington lifer from the Northeast; so clearly the McCain camp thought this was worth the risk. We might learn terrible or wonderful things about her in the next few months, but for the moment this seems superficially like a more palatable pick than any of the bigger Republican names that had been floating around — clearly it was in McCain’s eyes. (Brad DeLong wonders whether a similar line of reasoning didn’t leave us with Dan Quayle twenty years ago.)

Update: I originally included a link to this YouTube video of Palin making Craig Ferguson an honorary citizen of Alaska, which I think speaks to her sense of humor. But it also involves Ferguson making jokes about her giving off a sexy librarian vibe, which is fine in the context of a late-night comedy show, but isn’t a fair first impression for a female candidate for a major national office. All sorts of jokes will doubtless be on their way, we might as well make some meager effort to start things off with more substantive considerations.

Update again: Because I don’t know anything about Palin, I’ve tried to be open-minded about the pick. But 24 hours later, the obvious first conclusion to which one is tempted to jump appears increasingly correct: this is a person who has no business being anywhere near a national ticket. Sufficient evidence for this conclusion comes from the words of her supporters, along the lines of: Sure, she’s woefully underqualified, but in all probability John McCain will live for at least another four years! And if he doesn’t, we’re sure she will have the good sense to resign.

I wonder how many times she has visited Iraq to get the facts on the ground?

I agree that now history will be made whoever wins, which is pretty remarkable, but from a practical standpoint the only rational explanation for this is that the internal polling numbers in the McCain camp must show him behind by enough in important states so that a roll of the dice became necessary.

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

She wants creationism taught in schools and is strongly anti-choice. It’s pretty clear this is caving to the social conservatives.

The Biden-Palin debates will be wildly entertaining … she has zero foreign policy experience and will be a heartbeat away (a 72 yr-old’s hearbeat) from running this country. That makes me shudder with fear.

Maybe this choice is good politically for McCain … time will tell … but, it’s absolutely horrible for the United States.

http://chevelin.blogspot.com Kevin

Too bad her record of supporting science initiatives is abysmal…

Elliot

So history repeats itself. Once again McCain turns to a younger attractive woman to help his political career.

e.

The new GOP bumper stickers are going to read “The Pale One and Palin”

T. Melorin

Here is a substantive consideration: when asked about teaching creationism or evolution in schools during the Alaska gubernatorial election she said: “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. ”

That immediately disqualifies her in my mind, no matter what her other views are.

I fear that this is not as bad (strategically) a pick as it first seems to many, possible wishful and insufficiently canny, commenters. They can say that Palin has “some real experience as an executive” versus the legislative-only (?) ticket of BO-Joe. It will be hard to criticize her for “lack of experience” due to that and Obama’s own vulnerability. (However, many commenters got hip to the strategy of accusing McCain of hypocrisy/double-standard about that issue, instead.) Many women will be attracted to the idea, especially if they were on the fence before.

We can only hope that it looks like the pandering it is to enough voters, and that enough voters (take note Hillary supporters) realize that McCain-Palin would suppress abortion rights strongly given what they say they believe.

Almost transparently, this has Rove-bullet’s “fingerprints all over it” – the cynical pandering move, done as a political stunt. McCain clearly looks like a prick (metaphorically at least.)

Go BO-Joe!

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

Neil B. says: “It will be hard to criticize her for “lack of experience” due to that and Obama’s own vulnerability.”

Perhaps … but what this choice does is potentially diminish the effectiveness of the Obama-is-inexperienced meme coming from the McCain camp. This has been a cornerstone of their campaign … this was a meme I figured they’d repeat ad naseum until election day. It’s difficult to see that working as well now. Sure, maybe Obama doesn’t have decades of experience, but 4 yrs in D.C. preceded by several yrs in Illinois state gov’t is significantly more than 1.5 yrs as governor of Alaska preceded by major of a town w/ 9,000 people.

Maria

I am delighted that McCain took the gutsy move to choose Palin as his VP. It has given me hope and a reason to vote for MCain. Heck, she is the governor of the biggest state of the nation, a working mother who has been able to balance her career while still being a mother of five! Her son is about to be sent to Irak and is a mother of a child with down’s syndrome. What an incredible woman.

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisy rose

Perhaps it does not matter who is president – could it be that it is an “honorary” office ?!? – The masses must be entertained.

http://www.thechocolatefish.blogspot.com Yvette

Well I guess we’ve just been guaranteed that the rest of the election cycle will be interesting.

Really though, good for her. I will be voting in this election on policy of course and can’t say I agree with many of hers, but it’s heartening that in America even our conservative party does stuff like this.

(Also had a friend just shout behind me “but who will all the racist AND sexist bigots vote for now?!” Good question. )

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

Maria says: “What an incredible woman.”

Who cares? So is my mom … but she’s not qualified to be VP.

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Actually, I think McCain did flub up in the long run after all. I think there’s a simple and easy strategy Democrats could use to show the country that John McCain is playing games with the voters just to get elected. It takes a few steps:

1. Ask, and maybe even him directly too: Would John McCain have picked Sarah Palin if, having all the same background, she wasn’t a woman? No, really, of course not – some guy like that just wouldn’t have been the Veep choice “and we all know it.” So,

2. That shows that John McCain was pandering, trying to pull a “See what a cute smart-ass I am, diddling with Hillary supporters and sticking my tongue out at Barack Obama.” My mother said, he “looked pleased as punch,” with a big smug smart-alec’s smirk on his face.

3. Once voters realize that John McCain was pandering like that, taking chances with the well-being of the nation just to play election games, enough of them will be outraged enough to say, no way I will vote for an jackass like that.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance JoAnne

I’m delighted by this choice as well – I think it’s a great boost for the Dems! McCain has ceded the cornerstone issue of his campaign (experience) and added an ultra-conservative wild card to the ticket. This should scare off plenty of independent voters. The only problem is that if McCain is elected it is now a much more frightening situation.

Sili

“Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. “

Well, presumably she’s talking about Sedna and Raven and whatnot. I’m not all that strong on Inuit lore, so it can’t hurt to teach it.

Jordag

An absolutely brilliant move by the McCain campaign. A VP pick designed solely to pander to female votes as a political ploy, but one that will be portrayed as a bold and gutsy choice that will empower women, and allow McCain to show that he relates more to the common man. This could very well win him the election in November.

…I weep for America’s future. I really, and truly do.

Ann Nelson

I think she is a good choice, politically. Reinforces the maverick image while exciting the base. And she seems likeable and smart. Too bad both she and McCain are kooks. The McCain administration seems like it could potentially be even more disasterous than the current one.

Charla

I think Mccain’s choice borders on insanity. Apparently Mccain thinks he is invincible. He’s had skin cancer recently, he’s got bad cholesterol numbers, he’s 72. He should have chosen someone with more experience. This woman would be President should anything (G-forbid) happen to him. She has been governor for only two years. She adds nothing to the ticket. She won’t win a debate against a sage like Biden either.

I’m republican and I just changed my vote. At least if anything happens to Obama, Biden can lead.

I am utterly disappointed in Mccain’s choice.

Slide2112

The beautiy queen from Alaska running for VP has more executive experience, and a record that we can actually talk about, then the Democratic nominee for President

What does that tell you about your guy….

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Slide2112, running a campaign like Obama does take executive skills, and here’s a very key point: Obama was attractive to many *in spite of* his little bit of experience, only because of other traits and apparent talents such as shown by his book and speeches. What has Palin got to *comp* for her lack of experience? Remember, much of the problem is John McCain’s self-contradiction in this choice. He’s the one who kept on pushing how important experience and especially fo-po experience is. At least Obama had contact with that in national government, and he can lean on Biden if need be. What will Sarah do if McCain slips out? Look at Charla’s post above.

Slide2112

“Obama was attractive to many *in spite of* his little bit of experience, only because of other traits and apparent talents such as shown by his book and speeches.”

Exactly! The guys got nothing. Well done Neil!

http://anthologyoi.com Aaron

I know nothing about this nominee, so I can’t make any serious claims. It seems rather political of McCain to pick a female vice-president, but all choices are done for political reasons. Based just on her views mentioned here, I’m even more not going to vote for McCain.

But less seriously, doesn’t she remind you of the female president on Battlestar Galactica a few years ago?

@Slide, nice job taking things way out of context. Neil didn’t say Obama has nothing to offer, just that he has OTHER things to offer to make up for his perceived lack of experience.

Hello Puma PAC,
Goodbye Howard Dean. Goodbye Barack Obama. Goodbye Nancy Pelosi. Goodbye Donna Brazile. You have not only lost the White House for the Democratic Party. Today you have brought the Democratic Party to the brink of irrelevancy altogether. John McCain has played you all like a piano.

Today we say GOODBYE to the OLD Democratic Party. The OLD Democratic Party has led us to DISASTER. John McCain and Sarah Palin will win in November by a landslide.

TODAY, August 29th 2008, Puma PAC has started a new political party:

THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
We have a website launching tonight. at http://www.thenewdemocraticparty.org
and http://www.ndp.org
We will be modeled on Alice Paul’s National Woman’s Party. We will NOT be running candidates. We WILL be endorsing candidates.
We will be the Party for All Disaffected Democrats who are FINISHED WITH THE OLD DEMOCRATIC PARTY. We are NOT Republicans, though millions of us will vote McCain/Palin in November.

Our Platform is the Platform of the TRUE Democratic Party
. Healthcare for All
. Equal Rights
. Reproductive Rights
. Worker Protections
. Envmtl Protections
. Fair Immigration Policy
. Help for working class college students
. Good public schools

WE MUST PREVENT A REPUBLICAN TAKEOVER OF THE ELECTORATE. WE NEED A POLITICAL PARTY FOR ALL THE MILLIONS WHO WANT TO BOLT THE DEMS AFTER TODAY’S FIASCO.

Please JOIN US. We NEED the Platform and Principles of GOOD DEMOCRATIC VALUES now MORE THAN EVER. We MUST STAY UNITED AS A DEMOCRATIC VOTING BLOC OR WE COULD LOSE EVERYTHING.

Listen in tonight to the Lion’s Share on No We Won’t Radio with Sheri Tagg.
Riverdaughter and I will join her to talk about today’s events and where we go from here.http://www.blogtalkradio.com/no-we-wont

But Slide2112, that sort of talent shows intelligence and many say, good judgment. It should not be called “nothing,” and note the greater danger of McCain dying and leaving Palin in the breech, but Obama has Biden as ad visor meanwhile as well as to pick up if Obama dies.

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

“We are NOT Republicans, though millions of us will vote McCain/Palin in November.

Our Platform is the Platform of the TRUE Democratic Party
. Healthcare for All
. Equal Rights
. Reproductive Rights
. Worker Protections
. Envmtl Protections
. Fair Immigration Policy
. Help for working class college students
. Good public schools
…”

Murphy … give me a break … who are you trying to fool? That’s laughable.

You need to be way more subtle to try and pull off a front like this. Unless you are going so over the line pretending it’s satire, but you’re really serious at the same time and joking about it being satire, but you’re actually serious about it being satire and pretending you’re serious … inconceivable!

Matt S.

Don’t take the PUMA folks seriously Neil. We wouldn’t even hear about “party unity” issues if it weren’t for reps and the main-stream media pushing the idea that there’s a problem. This should be especially clear after Denver.

Kurt

I agree with Matt S. Do not take the PUMA folk seriously.

When Obama falls on November 4th only Obama will be to blame. Not his 300 foreign policy advisors, not PUMA, not his 50+ speech writers, not lifelong democrats and independents like me and not the superdelegates but OBAMA and him alone.

Palin is a fantastic choice. talk about change! She will bring many of the working class voters (men and women) to the Republicans as well as executive experience to the table. She rose to office only after becoming a whistleblower against oil companies. She wants to make us energy independent by drilling and many other ways but she is also a conservationist.

What’s Obama going to do say “she is not experienced” That will be like calling the kettle black.

Good Bold Choice by McCain
Shows that is not your run of the mill republican. But more a republican in the T. Roosevelt tradition.

bp

What’s Obama going to do say “she is not experienced” That will be like calling the kettle black.

That’s ridiculous. Put them side by side.

She has a B.A. in journalism from U. Idaho. He has a Harvard Law degree.

After college, she spent three years as a sports reporter and fisherman. He spent three years as a community organizer in Chicago.

Since then, he’s been in the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. She’s been the mayor of a village with a population < 8000 people. For (less than) the past two years she’s been governor of Alaska.

Did I leave anything out? What a joke.

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

Kurt,

Wrong. This is not a “bold” choice, it’s pandering. She is strongly anti-choice (even if rape/incest), she wants creationism taught in schools, she denies an anthropogenic contribution to global warming, she claims to be a “porkbuster” but wanted the infamous bridge to nowhere built on the federal taxpayer’s dime.

And, how many times can it be said … drilling will NOT makes us energy independent. You mention that first along with “many other ways” as if it is the cornerstone to achieving this. This is absolutely false, it has been debunked thoroughly, where do you get your numbers? Additionally, what are her “many other ways”?

How is she not a run-of-the-mill Republican?

Boomerang

Man, are you guys kidding? This was a great choice. And lets get one thing clear… she is NOT anti-choice, do not confuse anti-choice with Pro-Life. They are not the same. And you had better check your records closer about the rape and incest issue. First, you are incorrect, and you can put the woman’s medical issue in that box as well.

I love it when someone brings up the whole rape/incest issue. The number is so small….. but if you want a debate, go ahead. Example: South Dakota.. now I know it’s not a highly populated state, but the rape/incest ratio per capita is. If I said my wife and I would take EVERY baby that fell into that classification, guess what, it would take nearly SEVEN years to get ONE baby!

As for Creationism….. yew hew! Where have you been? Every state is going to this. Even the hard core evolutionist admit there are too many holes in their theory and have accepted a combination of the two. That is what she is proposing, not creationism, in and of itself.

Porkbarreling……… you better go read Obama’s record.

You want a debate…. be careful who you go up against!

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

Boomerang says: “Even the hard core evolutionist admit there are too many holes in their theory and have accepted a combination of the two.”

Whoa. I had to do a double-take for that one.

Kurt

brianR- Obama supporters should not talk about pandering. David Axelrod said 27 times “Hillary Clinton will say and do anything to win”
He should have been talking about Obama.

Obama after winning nomination
Refines his view on Iraq(after hammering HRC on it while aceepting the supprt from Biden and Kerry), talking to leaders of Iran and North Korea, gives into offshore drilling(how bold and progressive he is!), NAFTA, says welfare reform was a good thing, panders to evangelicals to expand Bush’ faith based initiatives, tells a crowd in FL that he will “find the money” to fund next generation NASA space vehicle after resisting it for so long, etc etc etc etc etc

Next, in 28 years no republican has threatened Roe vs Wade. We had Reagan and two Bush’s so please do not tell me that McCain – a maverick who was rumored to be in talks with Kerry to be a possible running mate, a man who vetted Tom ridge (pro choice) to be his VP will threaten Roe vs Wade. He has sided against his party on a dozen issues in the past 2 years will not threaten Roe vs Wade.

Lastly, I am not a McCain/Palin supporter So I will not defend them too much.
I am just saying that many DEMS will vote this ticket. Palin only needs to convince 2-3% of us and we McCain wins.

“Additionally, what are her “many other ways”?”

“Palin is unique from many GOP oil proponents. Despite her husband’s occasional employment with BP, Palin has taken great pains to remain apart from Big Oil. Nevertheless, she is committed to helping Alaskans economically by supporting development in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge, reminding the public that the footprint for the project would be the size of a postage stamp on a desk. Meanwhile, she has worked hard to address climate change issues such as greenhouse emissions and pollution.”

I also read on her website (which is being bombarded right now) that she thinks the only long term solution is nuclear power.

http://www.twis.org/audio/2008/08/19/268/ TwisMinion

Wow, this pick amazes me…

Picking a female VP to woo Hillary diehards I get… But they must not have looked much further than that… Maybe they started alphabetically until they found a female in the GOP?

Palin is in the midst of an ethics probe that should be ready to explode before the election! So much fodder on top of her lack of experience!

Using her office to leverage personal attacks and firing public officials that don’t do her personal bidding?
Oh, wait this is the GOP VP… right, now i get it… She still needs to shoot someone in the face to get the respect she is looking for from the right…

-j-

HopeE

I love the way the whole long terrifying record of the republican party of the last (particularly) 12 years has just vanished from the dialogue.

“once again, McCain turns to a much younger woman to save his political career.”

jonm

“kudos to McCain for his courage in making that choice”

WTF? Putting an African-American on a national ticket is a significant gamble. Sorry as I am to say it, it will probably cost millions of votes. Putting a woman on is not. Margaret Thatcher and Ayn Rand are already up there in the conservative pantheon.

The choice was not about courage; it was about swinging important votes in November. She will bring a lot of women, people concerned about gas prices, and people in Western states.

non-left-winger

Sean, congratulations on your first politically fair post.

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

Kurt says: “I am just saying that many DEMS will vote this ticket.”

Bullshit. You’ve been watching too much cable news and falling for all that malarkey. Are there some democrats that will ‘defect’ and vote McCain? Sure. It’s not electorally significant however … it’s a myth, it’s media-created drama.

The one thing the Palin pick might do is help re-energize the religious extremists of this country, which is a bit frightening. Rove is clearly trying to steer the discourse of this election from real, everyday issues to the culturally divisive issues.

Btw, I like how you side-stepped your statement about all those ‘hard core evolutionists’ who now advocate teaching creationism in public school. I must have missed that report.

Michael D. Hancher

Sean:

You state. : “I know nothing about her, so I will suspend judgement. But she is a woman, which is fantastic”. I can not comprehend an opinion of “fantastic” simply by virtue of the fact that SHE is a woman?

Do you know anything about Aileen Wuornos? She is (was) a woman. Would it also be fantastic if she had been selected as the VP running mate simply by virtue of the fact that she is (was) a woman?

Your comment exhibits a very narrow minded form or journalism.

By the way Aileen Wuornos was a serial killer, executed for her crimes.

Jason Dick

I don’t think Karl Rove is actually involved in the McCain campaign. It seems others have taken up his tactics, however.

Elliot

This pick reminds me of the time of year when teams that have no shot at the post season trade their veterans for draft picks. The GOP presidential field this year was pretty shallow. I think this choice is for a party knows they’ve lost and are trying to build for the future.

e.

Vern

You all are a bunch of hippies. This woman is the next big thing. Living in Alaska, I’ve seen what she can do. I’ve experienced it. Gov. Palin is able to stand up to corporations and tell them what is best for the people. I live in Alaska and I have already seen her at work. You can take my word, America will not be disappointed. You might not want Republican representation, but Gov. Palin is the new face of the Republican Party. If you love your children, you’ll at least listen to what she has to say.

Vern

Hippies! go hug some trees. We can talk after the November election when all your hippie Obama issues are done and gone. McCain/Palin is the future. If its going to be Obama/Biden, I don’t think I’ll be the only one who thinks Canada or Costa Rica is the future. McCain/Palin for the future of America!!!

kometes

My Fellow Americans,

After reflecting on the needs of family and the rigors of the campaign trail, I now realize that I cannot do both. It’s with heavy heart today I must tell that I am withdrawing as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. As a person who holds my “family values” deeply within the core of my being, I cannot with clear conscience continue to devote my heart fully to this campaign. My special needs child deserves better. America deserves better.

I wish to thank John McCain for choosing me. As a woman, find his choice is both inspired and inspiring — to me and all the women of this beloved country. As a politician, I find his choice forward thinking and gutsy — truly the choice maverick. I am sure that John McCain’s campaign will recover from the unfortunate circumstances that prevent me from continuing on as his running mate. I wish him all the best and I will continue work hard from my home state of Alaska to see to it that he becomes the next president of this great country.

Thank you and God bless.

http://deleted Simon DeDeo

It is all so bizarre, is it not?

I like how the GOP memo went out on the bat-fax to the comment sections of widely disparate websites — we are now all meant to be talking about “executive” experience. Rocky Kolb for president! He has more executive experience than all of them combined.

It does appear to be one of the few unambiguous adjectives that can be applied to Palin alone in the field (the other is “like HRC, but sort of not really HRC at all, except in a womanly fashion oh God please someone vote for this ticket.”)

chmod a-x palin, I say!

Also, I think we should spread the rumor that it’s McCain-Paulin, as in Tom Paulin, the avant garde poet, who has Republican sympathies. (Different republic, though.)

Dennis

I think Palin is a good choice for McCain politically. Based on her first speech, she speaks well, seems more like a down-to-Earth person than most “experienced” politicians, is attractive (which always helps), and is an outside the box pick that will give independents and disgruntled Democrats a reason to give McCain a second look. Even though that may all be true, Obama’s foreign and economic policies are better for the long-term success and security of the United States. So far, the biggest thing that should concern all of us about Palin is her admitted non-interest and ignorance of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, is that what we really need, a person who has little interest or knowledge in foreign affairs? I’m not criticizing her lack of experience; I’m criticizing her lack of interest. To me, that’s far more dangerous. Ironically, this choice demonstrates McCain’s willingness to put politics before country, and further calls into question his lack of good judgment when considering the security of our nation. After eight years of the Bush administration’s incompetence and poor judgment, four years of McCain/Palin would seriously weaken our nation. The Obama/Biden ticket is our best hope for increased prosperity, security, and the rule of law that can reign in the dangerous expansion of presidential power under Bush.

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisy rose

I think it would be fun to be president – Go to awesome ( in the true sense of the word ) Dinner parties and maybe hang out with Carla Bruni – Someone with real power.

Alan Llewellyn

I think it’s hilarious that anyone is paying any attention at all to the Republican nominations.
After the most disastrous presidency in US history, the Republicans knew they were not going to get elected whoever they nominated. So they chose someone so old he’d retire when he lost, with none of the real contenders’ images tarnished – just in case BO messes up and they might have the slightest chance of winning in 2012. BO would have to go to war with Russia to make people forget how awful the last Republican president was.
Palin is the expendable side dish of the Republican sacrificial lamb.

Kurt

Sarah Palin: pro-gay diva?
This is not what you’d expect from a social conservative:

Palin’s first veto(http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/palin-on-gay-ri.html) was used to block legislation that would have barred the state from granting benefits to the partners of gay state employees. In effect, her veto granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples. The veto occurred after Palin consulted with Alaska’s attorney general on the constitutionality of the legislation.

“I have no fear that in this country we will never go back to back-alley abortion. I respect both the pro-choice arguments and the pro-life arguments and I believe it is a personal choice that the government cannot be involved in. I am not afraid to have a pro-life president and vice-president because I believe that no matter who is on the Supreme Court, women will never lose their right to make the decision themselves. No man can ever take that away from us. We would revolt before we would let that happen and they know it.”

ans most of the social conservatives are actually really comfortable with the people they claim to hate. “The personal is political” is a left-wing mantra; on the right, things like “self-loathing” are items on the CV.

Boomerang

Great choice Senator McCain. She brings alot to the table. Anyone who questions her experience better look at the top of Dem ticket. She has more experience than Obama.

She crosses party lines (already done it) Her record shows she has done what her constistuents want and the constitution says, not her personal views. Check her record. Someone stated she is big on porkbarreling, excuse me, her title is Governor not Senator. She started the investigation on the Senator from Alaska that porkbarreled the “bridge to nowhere”.

She has veto’d over 300 bills so far. And if you look the bills she veto’d, I’ll bet you would have also, I know I would have.

Then you compare Senator McCain to President Bush! Are you kidding? I’m amazed he’s made it this far because the republican party (the insider’s) don’t lile him. He doesn’t play the game with them….. he’s voted with the democrats on many bills. He votes based on his constiuants wants, needs, wishes.

That’s what a Senator is supposed do. McCain’s a big porkbarreler, yea right. Know how much porkbarrel money he has gotten for Arizona? I can tell exactly how much…. $0.00 He doesn’t believe in it. And he’s proven you don’t need it to have a healthy state. And if he’s done such a bad job howcome he’s been re-elected by overwelming majorities every time?

If you are gong to look at voting records…… let’s look at Obama’s record, it’s not pretty. And what’s the percenage of his record of voting “with Bush”? It’s higher than McCain’s. Look at the details instead of believing a bunch of sound bites that are taken out of context.

You want to pick on Governor Palin? Finally we have a statesman……or woman in this case, instead of a politition. I’ll take her anyday. I don’t care if the person running is male, female, white, black, green, or red.

If you are going to bring up the race issue with Obama, you had better bring it all. He’s half white too you know. I wonder what he listed on his college application? Because if he listed african american (which he did by the way) This is actually incorrect and could be interpeted as a falsified record. His actual race is classified as “mixed” and yes it’s on the application papers.

I think Senator McCain made an excellant choice. You want change? You can’t do any better than McCain/Palin! I just hope there’s room for Senator Fred Thomsen in their cabinet.

You say Senator Biden will eat her lunch? I don’t think so. This gal can more than hold her own!

Great choice Senator! Go get’em Governor!

http://www.davidnataf.com David Nataf

I’m surprised there are so many supporters of the Republican party on a physical science blog. I work with physical scientists and I have met some conservatives but they are few and far between, and they have all been moderates who don’t believe in ideas such as creationism.

anon

these people seem a little too invested in Palin to be
casual readers, so i googled a random sample from Dennis
above

“an outside the box pick that will give independents and disgruntled Democrats a reason ”

also turns up on the Dallas Morning News blog,
i think these guys are pro trolls.

MMAKansas

If McCain and Palin get elected, she would also be the first Pentecostal Christian on a major ticket… they are members of an Assembly of God associated Church, she is very Spiritual, and I think she will rally the Chrisitan base and right of the GOP.

The Left of America should be a little worried. All the put downs, excuses, and logic can be hefted against her, but the same could be said of Bush in 2004. It doesn’t matter.

1/5 of all GOP votes are right wing conservative Christians, and she will motivate and energize that grass roots group.

As to what the SEXIST & BIGOTS will do now? Well, sexism only goes so far, racisim is like a disease. Everyone has had a mother at one time or another so I think these types of voters, not secluded to southerners, but more of ignorant voters, will vote for the War Hero Pow and the Conservative oil drilling, gun toting mom of 5 outdoorswoman who’s husband is a commerical fisherman.

http://deleted Simon DeDeo

anon — Well done!

http://sallieparker.com Sallie Parker

Looking forward to a Biden/Palin debate. Maybe they’re both lightweights, but Palin will have more gravitas simply by showing up and not being Flapjaw Joe. Biden’s people will think they’re really clever by bringing up Jeopardy!-style trivia, like the capital of Burundi. “How can you be Vice President if you don’t know the capital of Burundi?” He’ll do this over and over, and lose a hundred thousand votes each time.

scottb

Sallie Parker,

Do you read palms too?

I agree with the “pro troll” comment above – they are really out in force!

http://clasticdetritus.com BrianR

I also agree w/ the pro trolls observation … one thing is for certain, they know how to stay on message!

Did someone actually cite WorldNetDaily above? Yikes.

TruePatriot

Who cares about McCain’s VP pick when we can’t even support McCain himself? If actions speak louder than words (or lofty speeches), let’s take a closer look at the Real McCains:

Like Bush’s popularity because of 9-11, and chance rather than merit, John McCain’s constant reliance on his POW background to gain political power is a mistake for many reasons. But what people may not know is McCain’s flip-flop in regard to torture was a bigger mistake.

“In all the discussion of John McCain’s recently recovered memory of a religious epiphany in Vietnam, one thing has been missing. The torture that was deployed against McCain emerges in all the various accounts. It involved sleep deprivation, the withholding of medical treatment, stress positions, long-time standing, and beating. Sound familiar?

JOHN MCCAIN this week had a choice between his principles and propping up a failed president. He chose the latter – McCain drops the torture ball -http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/16/mccain_drops_the_torture_ball/

And what of McCain’s first wife Carol? Many don’t know the history of “The wife U.S. Republican John McCain callously left behind” His infidelities put strain on his first marriage, and he was divorced from Carol McCain, his wife of 15 years, in 1980. He married Cindy a month later.

Ted Sampley, who fought with US Special Forces in Vietnam and is now a leading campaigner for veterans’ rights, said: ‘I have been following John McCain’s career for nearly 20 years. I know him personally. There is something wrong with this guy and let me tell you what it is – deceit.’

And we continue with the rest of the history. John McCain is no more moral than John Edwards, and Cindy makes a $300 hair cut look like nothing. Who is Cindy McCain? Aside from their 7, or is it 11 properties, Cindy is known to spend as much as $7,000 in one month on just one American Express card. So they are rich, out-of-touch Republicans. What’s new? The real story of interest goes a little farther back.

“In 1989, following two back surgeries, Cindy McCain became addicted to the painkillers Vicodin and Percocet. To keep up with her daily need of 10 to 15 pills, she used other people’s names for prescriptions and stole drugs from the American Voluntary Medical Team, a mobile surgical unit she’d begun in 1988 to provide emergency medical services around the world. A 1993 DEA audit of the amount of painkillers her charity had obtained quickly uncovered her thefts.” –http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/cindy.asp

Her addiction isn’t the big story, but rather how John McCain tried to cover-up the illegal activity with his political power. And if that’s not enough skeletons in the closet to worry about, in trying to link Obama with Rezko, McCain has re-opened the door to yet another scandal in his past.

“The problem with this attack? Aside from being thoroughly misleading — Obama has not been seriously alleged to have done anything unethical in his interactions with Rezko — this ad is a serious strategic blunder by the McCain campaign. Why? It blows wide open the door to talk about McCain’s all-too-close relationship with Charles Keating and well reported on though somewhat forgotten charter membership in the so-called “Keating Five.”

…In the end, the crash of Keating’s savings and loan — which had been shielded by some of his best friends in the United States Senate — cost billions to the American taxpayer, as mentioned above, and all told the federal government ended up on the hook for close to $125 billion in the fallout of the crisis that befell the underregulated industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Does McCain really want to have to talk about all of this? About the Bahaman vacations he took paid for by Keating? Probably not. But he may soon have to as a result of the shortsightedness of his campaign advisors. Nice move team McCain!” –http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/8/21/185928/267

Conservatives claim morals (e.g., infidelity) are just as important as committing a crime (e.g., perjury–no, I’m referring to Scooter Libby). But once again we see the hypocrisy as Republicans choose another candidate with questionable character.

The way a candidate manages his/her campaign is a first indication of how they’ll run the country. McCain has been all over the place with promises and positions, and rather than take the high road, he quickly reverted to the Rovian tactics that were used against him in 2000. He can’t get people to a rally or the convention, and if it wasn’t for the RNC and Big Business, he wouldn’t have any funds either. It also is said that the VP pick is the first example of presidential judgment for a candidate. McCain’s selection of a woman is only historical for the Republican Party. All this does is remind people how backward the RNC is. But was this the best decision McCain could have made?

A most disturbing thing about John Edward’s recent behavior was that he was unfaithful while his wife was fighting breast cancer. Conservatives, including right-wing women, have always hated Hillary because she wanted to pursue a career in law rather than serve “tea and cookies.” Here we have Sarah Palin, who is praised for being a mother of five, including a baby with Down Syndrome. Where are those fundamentalists now when this woman is choosing to pursue fame and fortune instead of putting “family values” first?

Moose meat versus arugula is the least of our worries. She is anti-science. She does not believe in evolution, or climate change, or development of natural gas and other clean fuels, and most of all she does not believe in women’s rights. There is a reason the prior presidential hopeful Lindsey Graham is not, and probably never will run for President — the Terri Schiavo intervention. That’s when Americans woke up to the fact that religious radicals had taken over the Republican Party. Palin would shake things up all right, she’d help take this country back to the Dark Ages (you know, when McCain was born), and bring government into your home and invade you privacy.

And let’s not forget why we’ve had to endure the tyranny of Cheney all these years. Cheney made it clear he had no intention of running for POTUS. This automatically made him unaccountable. If McCain intends to serve for only one term, or if Palin is just a temporary gimmick for the upcoming 2008 election (I doubt the RNC will want her to be the frontrunner in the future), we would be in for more of the same.

But most of all, after eight miserable years of Bush/Cheney, our country wants to move forward, not backward. It has been my hope that this time Americans would place the bar a little higher in regard to qualifications for the most important jobs in our country and in the world. Like Bush with his C-grade average and business failures, neither McCain nor Palin have very impressive credentials from education to career achievements outside politics. If experience is what counts, where is it? The Bush administration has been copying Obama’s foreign policy positions for a reason. This duo makes Obama look like John Adams.

In the meantime “my friends,” not only has McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time, let’s not forget that McCain is to the right of Bush in regard to war-mongering. We’ll have to get out the old bumper stickers: “Four More Wars!” and “Drop McCain Not Bombs”

So go ahead Republicans, tow the Party line like you always do. Hold your nose and vote for McCain/Palin (or should we say vote against Obama), even though it’s not in your best interest or putting our country first.

http://whenindoubtdo.blogspot.com/ Eugene

Simon,

I agree.

ROCKY FOR PRESIDENT!

(or as he would probably say

ROCKY FOR EL PRESIDENTE!)

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisyrose

All the adults have left the room

http://madfeminist.blogspot.com/ AM

Kurt:

At your #48 comment, you had a quote by Gov Palin, but the link doesn’t have it. Could you recheck your source?

John Merryman

I think Palin’s selection needs to be considered as an appeal to the white working class gen xers that grew up with Reagan as the meta-father figure and Rush as the obnoxious older brother on the sound track, rather than just to ex Hillary supporters and older people who want another reason to vote for McCain.

For these people a lesson in economics needs to be front and center. Alaska might be full of rugged individualists, but they get thousands a year from oil revenues, so it’s hard not to see Palin as the pretty, scrappy spokesperson for big oil. Why do we need another flack for big oil?

Also another argument in a broader economic context is that yes, Democrats think everyone should support the country by paying their fair share of taxes, but the Republicans think we can just borrow it from rich people(and other countries). As we have all begun to realize, when you borrow more then you can pay back, those lenders own you. So government borrowing means average people might not pay a few extra dollars in taxes, but eventually they will no longer own their government, just like many people no longer own their homes. So they put up a pretty face to sell you that loan, but the ones they send to foreclose on it will not be so nice.

http://deleted Simon DeDeo

Eugene —

You should have seen the campaign he ran to get us all to tell NASA to call GLAST Fermi (UChicago now has four of the great observatories: Hubble, Chandra, and Compton are the other three.)

Obama isn’t the only “community organizer” to come out of Hyde Park!

Eirik

@ anon
It should be possible to make a comment filter that prevents plagiarism. It could take a couple of quotes and search for them on google. Just like you did, but automated. It would kill a lot of trolls, especially on political blogs.

“Palin vetoed HB 4001. Before you get too excited, she signed HB 4002 – to put benefits up to a non-binding vote of the people. Palin also stated that while she believed in HB 4001, her advisors had told her it was unconstitutional. Rather than go through the court costs, she vetoed the bill. Yeah, she’s no ally.”

….

“She also supported the 1998 ballot initiative to put a ban on same-sex marriage in the Alaskan constitution…”

“On Dec. 19, the Alaska Supreme Court directed the state to offer benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees. Palin, a Republican who does not support gay marriage, said she was forced to make her first veto because the court’s ruling made the bill unconstitutional.
“Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office,” Palin said in a prepared statement Thursday night.”

…
The statement from the Palin administration said the veto doesn’t mean Palin suddenly agrees with the Supreme Court, which ruled that the state has to offer the benefits starting Jan. 1.
“It is the Governor’s intention to work with the legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue,” the statement said.

In the first veto of an administration that isn’t yet a month old, Palin said she rejected the bill despite her disagreement with a state Supreme Court order earlier this month that directed the state to offer benefits to same-sex partners of state employees.

Advice from her new attorney general said the bill passed by the Legislature was unconstitutional, she said.

“Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office,” Palin said in a prepared statement released by her administration Thursday night.

She cut the MATCH funding for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power–The feds were going to give us half, the state/university was responsible for the other.

Now, the woman in charge of this project worked on the geothermal energy project at Chena Hot Springs. I’m sure Sarah will think this is a great idea next year when half the state freezes to death next winter because of heating fuel prices, unfortunately, the federal funds might not be available. This project is about renewable state energy resources. Forget that $100/month, it isn’t going to help anyone when heating fuel hits 10/gal.

Sarah really messed up on this one.

http://arunsmusings.blogspot.com Arun

This is like shooting moose (from various accounts on the web, the dumb animals don’t even run away as you drive up in your SUV and shoot them).

This is a typical case on tokenism. McCain wanted and got a female on
his ticket. I have seen it happen in academia, and I still don’t understand
the reasons why people would choose the least qualified female from the
pool. Maybe they want the other women to then reject them – then they
come back with: I tried to hire/promote a woman; but the other female faculty did not agree.

Once I saw Palin’s positions on various issues of interest to me as a woman and a scientist, I was appalled that someone would have such a low opinion of women in general to think that Palin would help McCain. I hope these Rovian strategists are not correct.

http://www.pieter-kok.staff.shef.ac.uk Pieter Kok

She reminds me of the health instructor from Donnie Darko.

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisy rose

Or Putney Swope

bryan

Sarah Palin! Charge!

<a href=”http://www.freesmileys.org”

Jason

Wow Palins a great choice for Mccain. Palins all about drilling in national parks screwing endangered species is an abortion extremist and is under investigation for misusing her power as Gov. of Alaska. She holds a Bachelors degree in communication/journalism from the University Of Idaho. She dreamed of being a espn sports reporter. While Mccain cant think for himself and relies on cue cards or a teleprompter to say anything intelligent. He was third to last in his class of almost 800 people at a U.S naval academy. A naval academy he arguably got into because of his four star general dad. He has melanoma “skin cancer” he was born in 1936, he is good friends with the current President A.K.A the worst president ever elected. Obama graduated from Harvard law with honor, Biden graduated from University of Delaware in Newark, where he double-majored in history and political science. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University College of Law. Considering Obama and Bidens education and that they are not taking any money from special interest groups. It makes it considerably hard for me to believe anything Mccain Palin is doing or saying his/her agendas rely in the lobbyists that give them huge donations. With that said you can either vote for an idiot that could croak at any moment and leave the White House to a person with a 4 year degree that is a beauty pageant winner and has dream of working for espn. Or you could rely on a Harvard graduate with an honest dream of a better America who is morally sound. A Syracuse graduate that would actually work for everyday Americans and has tons of government experience with foreign and domestic issues abroad. If you pick Mccain you are either really rich and would actually gain something from him being president or your really stupid.

I cant wait for the VP debate and Presidential debates Obama and Biden will own them.

If Mccain Palin is elected I will be moving to Canada, taking my Degree elsewhere and laugh when this country continues to crumbles around the edges.

Jason

This is a very important election either we are screwed or we are saved. TV news media spins stuff to look a lot better then it seems. Google each candidate for an hour or more before you swing in a direction. This should take four hours or more of time it doesn’t have to be done in one day. Once you are swinging in a direction watch the debates four in total three presidential debates one VP debate. Then make up your mind. Its the best way to get to know your candidates in a unbiased way. Its all about who make up the more believable lie, the republicans are very good at this. Be aware!!!

Gordon

Sean: Stop being such an unquestioning feminist! She supports banning abortion in the cases of rape and incest and she supports teaching Creationism in schools.
Read Darwin’s great great grandson’s essay on the ID trial in Penn:http://www.wesjones.com/gorilla.htm
McCain’s choice is one of cynicism and breathtaking inanity.

Thomas Larsson

From a European perspective, it looks like two very similar teams: an old, experienced, white male, and a younger, inexperienced person, who is not a white male. The most PC choice would of course be a non-white, non-male person, but since Condi didn’t run for office, this is not going to happen…

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Boomerang, maybe like lots of conservative apologists you “love” people bringing certain issues only because you think you have a good point, not that you do. I just want to remind defenders of such radical anti-abortionism: Don’t prattle about how rare the option of abortion for rape or incest is. First, that isn’t very helpful to the women who do get into such a fix, and how stressful of course it is (imagine, having to carry the baby of a man who raped you, reminded of that event every minute of every day.) Also, the attitude about such issues is significant as a matter of principle, and to show the attitudes and priorities of the person holding (and enforcing per context) such views. OTOH, I do believe such strict believers are just sincere absolutists with no ulterior motive, but again, consider the consequences.

And here is some indication that Sarah Palin isn’t even as “nice” as many people think and want to believe:

“Palin recently thought it was hilarious when a couple of right-wing shock-jocks called a Republican foe a “bitch,” and referred to the cancer-surviving rival “a cancer.”

After hearing this, Palin not only laughed, but said she’d be “honored” if the shock-jocks attended her State of the State Address.”

troy

Palin is a surprising choice and it is not easy to overlook her lack of foreign policy experience and the fact that she is anti-abortion, but I am a democrat who simply cannot see how anyone can vote for Barack Obama. NO complaint about Palin’s lack of experience can supersede the same complaint about Obama. Obama has never made any significant stand of any kind or taken any serious action on any national security matter. He simply has a history of avoiding serious votes and his comments thus far on foreign policy are frankly alarming. Any kind of reliance on the UN at this time is a sign of vast ignorance about the realities of the world and it is very telling that Putin says he is “alarmed that McCain might become the next president of the U.S.”. Putin should be alarmed. America has to push back Russia again and stand up to terrorists and their liberal supporters. This can never be done by someone who seems more concerned about social issues that are simply not very compelling at this time. The economy is first (because with a weak economy we have no military strength) and foreign policy is second. For me, health care is a big issue and if I thought Obama could handle other problems, I would be strongly on his side. I just want to put in the voice of a disillusioned democrat who can’t stand to see his party put into the hands of clueless liberals.

I’m speaking as someone in Ohio whose biology teacher in high school refused to teach the chapter on evolution. So I feel it’s fair to repeat the previous comments about this failure in her qualifications.

Matt S.

Troy said: “Obama has never made any significant stand of any kind or taken any serious action on any national security matter. He simply has a history of avoiding serious votes”

You mean like standing up to the rest of the nation by opposing an unjust war, while pretty much everyone else is in a frenzy to hunt down the “evil terrorists” in Iraq?

Troy said: “America has to push back Russia again and stand up to terrorists and their liberal supporters.”

Yes, we liberals are all supporters of terrorism. Didn’t you know? Good that you finally noticed the threat that we are.

Troy said: “The economy is first (because with a weak economy we have no military strength) and foreign policy is second.”

You could also say that, because of the war, the economy is weak. But really, who cares about facts?

http://deleted Simon DeDeo

“I am a democrat … America has to push back Russia again and stand up to terrorists and their liberal supporters. This can never be done by someone who seems more concerned about social issues that are simply not very compelling at this time. The economy is first (because with a weak economy we have no military strength) and foreign policy is second. For me, health care is a big issue and if I thought Obama could handle other problems, I would be strongly on his side. I just want to put in the voice of a disillusioned democrat who can’t stand to see his party put into the hands of clueless liberals.”

This comment has some kind of non-removable singularity in its argument field. I think it also has enough vorticity to produce significant frame dragging.

beatrice

Obama runs for Prez and Palin runs for VP. Obama has zero executive experiences and he is Senator just ~ 2 years. Palin has executive experiences and incridible smart and a fast learner. Between McCain and Obama who run for Prez Obama gets nothing to compete with McCain.

I am a Hillary’s supporter but for Obama? No thanks. I don’t trust him. Obama is not sincere at all. He called his grand mother “a typical whitey” like threwing his own grand mother who raised him under the Bus. Why Obama has never spoken about his own mother who raised him but his father who had never fed him? The book he wrote “My father dream..” is laughable. Obama wants to connect himself to the father who abandonned him forgot his white grand parents who raised him.

Michelle his wife is racist. She had never proud of her country just now? Errr….

President Barack HUSSEIN OBAMA? Give me a break.

I prefer President Michael Jackson.

McCain/Palin will win this general election inspite of the facts the Dem camp try to trash Palin.

Logic

How about people vote based on the issues and their beliefs for what is the best way to deal with our nations problems and not based on age, sex, race, or religion. How sad is it that we have thousands of blogs and spend millions of dollars on things that have nothing to do with policy and government. This is exactly why we have gotten so off course and are in a decline, please people dont vote based on how well a man speeks or how much a man has suffered for our freedom but rather vote based on which one of these candidates supports your beliefs on human rights, economy, healthcare, war, terrorism,etc. there are clear differences in their plans.

troy

The sad attempts at cleverness do not mask the emptiness of a faith in Obama. Perhaps it is a profound difference of world view that motivates the liberal mind, but it is an inconceivable world view to anyone who has any experience of life outside a university or some pampered environment. It’s easy for Obama or anyone to oppose the war in Iraq at this time. Everyone opposes the war now (as I did from the beginning because I don’t believe it is motivated by a real desire to fight terrorism and I never trusted Bush or his motives). Opposition to the war is hardly a sign of great moral strength. Matt, you seem like a reasonably intelligent guy (while Simon just sounds like a pompous pampered brat of some kind), but you didn’t even really present an argument. Whatever Bush did is no longer the issue. McCain and Obama are not Bush. To paint McCain as a mere continuation of Bush is to ignore McCain’s entire career. I am no fan of McCain either. I respect him as a tough American who has fought for many things that he believes in, but I don’t agree with the Republican agenda. However, the dire situation partially created by Bush and partially created by many other circumstances requires someone with an understanding of the world and with experience handling tough situations. This person is definitely not Obama. The Russians are right now testing the resolve of America and Europe to stand up to them. They are willing to get involved with any force that will help them create disorder and trouble in the Western world. This is very clear to anyone who sees their relationship to China, Iran and now the breakway Georgian states. This is only part of a worsening world scenario that will soon require very strong action from the American president. It can’t be faced with cute speeches about restoring America’s moral standing in the world or how everybody should just talk to everybody and get along. That has never happened and will never happen. I often wonder if it is a deeply misguided utopianism that underlies all this hope in Obama. At any rate, there is no evidence in my opinion that Obama can be tough enough or that he even understands why he would have to be tough. Mr. Harvard law is soft — as is any form of intellectual liberalism. No liberal should ever be president of this country. It could only lead to disaster. White or black or Asian or any race – makes no difference. Liberals cannot lead in the real world.

Logic

LOL Troy you wrote way too much, heres why Conservaties cant lead in the real world, BUSH!!!! umm Liberal Clinton, LOL that was easy, one lead to disaster one left us with a surplus in prosperity… hmmmmm nice novel though…lol

Michael Bacon

“No liberal should ever be president of this country. It could only lead to disaster.”

Lincoln, Wilson, Roosevelt, Kennedy and others; yes they were all bad. Washington, Reagan, Truman and others; yes they were were all bad. But of course, that’s not the way the world works. This has to stop, no? There are particular challenges that face America now. Who is best to lead the country during this period of history?

I think Obama, but only time will tell.

troy

Clinton was a moderate whom I respect for his domestic policies and not for his failures with foreign policy. Michael Bacon has the right spirit.

Michael Bacon

I understand that on NBC news McCain said that compared to Obama it’s “almost ludicrous to compare [Palin’s] experience with his — it’s no contest.”

This is the kind of campaigning that makes it so difficult to take candidates seriously

troy

Can’t disagree with that. It’s this kind of empty hyperbole that makes it nearly impossible to take any politician seriously.

http://vacua.blogspot.com Jim Harrison

troy is probably on the payroll.

http://www.pieter-kok.staff.shef.ac.uk Pieter Kok

About the (vice-) presedential debates: I am afraid it will not be the bitch-slap-fest we are all hoping for (poor choice of words?). Judging from Bush-Kerry in 2004 there will be no real interaction in the debates, presumably to protect McCain from Obama.

http://deleted Simon DeDeo

“Simon just sounds like a pompous pampered brat of some kind”

troy —

Beautiful women, the haughtiest nations, laws, the landscape, people and animals,
The profound earth and its attributes, and the unquiet ocean,
All enjoyments and properties, and money, and whatever money will buy,
The best farms . . . . others toiling and planting, and he unavoidably reaps,
The noblest and costliest cities . . . . others grading and building, and he domiciles there;
Nothing for any one but what is for him . . . . near and far are for him,
The ships in the offing . . . . the perpetual shows and marches on land are for him if they are for any body.

PS I am weirder than you.

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisy rose

I hope in the debates they will talk about infrastructure – America needs better railroads – bridges, roads, – This is a huge country and we need to be able to travel freely – What about dept – lack of savings – The credit debacle – funding consumerism and not production. The People who are slaves to their dept; they are afraid.

Thomas Larsson

“I wonder how many times she has visited Iraq to get the facts on the ground?”

The brainwashed Obama drones are out saying Palin has no foreign policy experience. LOL. Let’s see the person at the bottom of the republican ticket has no foreign policy experience. This is the epitome of hypocrisy. Because the person at the TOP of the Dem ticket has no foreign policy experience a overseeing a 40 billion dollar project in Alaska (the oil pipeline). She is known as a reformer and actually has dems and republicans in her cabinet. That is PROOF of bipartianship. Where is Obama’s? It is thin and virtually non existent. It is hype.

Why should she have to have foreign policy experience anyway? By that logic Obama should have picked a guy/girl with absolutely no experience whatsoever in anything except running a cult of Obama.
The VP is supposed to ROUND out the ticket. Just like Obama who has no credibility among working class voters and foreign policy experience picks the flawed Joe Biden.

Sean- I have seen a lot of sexism and ageism but absolutely zero talking about the issues in this campaign but either McCain or Obama. We are screwed big time either way. To make age a factor is to open yourself up to attacks by people who can “McCain is more likely to live longer if become pres than Obama who would be assassinated in the first year” He is already received several death threats and two arrests were made. So I do not think you should make who is going to live longer a factor. McCain health is less important than Obama’s lack of qualifications experience and inability to get nothing actually done.

http://arunsmusings.blogspot.com Arun

To paint McCain as a mere continuation of Bush is to ignore McCain’s entire career.

“But anyone who’s studied McCain’s career with any intellectual detachment at all (as opposed to the hagiographic tendencies of his media cheerleading claque) could have told you: The truth about John McCain is that he’ll do just about anything and say just about anything to win. He always has. He’s just been more clever (and cynical) than most in how he goes about it.”

http://arunsmusings.blogspot.com Arun

CNN-Sheryl Crow:

CNN: Was there anything on the Republican side for you? McCain professes to be a champion of the environment, wants to curb global warming.

To which Sheryl replied with a story of a dinner in Austin that she’d attended in honor of McSame during the period when he was considering his POTUS run. There, she asked him why the US was being “so reticent to step up to where the science has already brought us” with regard to climate change and the Kyoto accord.

And his comment was, Our best years on the planet are probably behind us. And I was… I mean, the air just rushed out of my body, I felt very demoralized. And I said, if you run for president is that how you feel? Because that’s certainly not an answer that I can live with, not with a new baby. I can’t live with that being the idea.

Obama a. correctly predicted the consequences of the Iraq war and b. his time table is now virtually official policy of the Bush administration after six years of “no timetables”.

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Kos has a fascinating, scary, and apparently well-documented story about Palin’s connection to the Alaskan Independence Party. Watch the video in which the vice-chairman of AIP talks about “the necessity of infiltrating the major national parties in order to further the goals of the AIP.”

“Sarah Palin also fired a school chum of hers, who was a top aide… APPARENTLY FOR DATING THE WRONG PERSON.

John Bitney, who was in band class with Sarah Palin in school (insert ‘one time, in band camp…’ jokes here), served as a top adviser to Palin. One day, his work Blackberry stopped working. He called the office to see what was up, and found out he was fired.

Why?

Because Bitney was dating the separated wife of one of Todd Palin’s friends. That made Todd Palin angry.

So, Todd, who was said to sit in on government meetings, and cc’d on official emails, apparently pressured Sarah Palin to can her old and trusted friend.

Again, as in the case with Troopergate and DairyGate and the Police Chief firing in Wasilla, no charge was made that Bitney wasn’t doing his job well. The official word was that he “left” for “personal reasons.”

“Since my last diary, I’ve gleaned many additional details concerning Sarah Palin’s corrupt, fiscally irresponsible, and almost comical mismanagement of the last days of a failing Alaskan state-owned dairy. What I’ve learned has confirmed my worst suspicions. Matanuska Maid is no longer a mystery to me: it’s a scandal that shreds forever the myth of Sarah Palin as a government reformer and fiscal conservative.”

http://www.dukecityfix.com Sophie

Okay, so I never comment here. But I have to say it: Don’t feed the trolls. It’s sad that they’ve found you, and if you want them to go away you really do have to starve them out and/or engage in active deletion of their comments.

Good luck!

http://coraifeartaigh.wordpress.com Professor R

Palin’s official stance on climate change is that she doesn’t believe in man-made global warming. Great.

Badger3k

Well, global warming will do wonders for Alaska, make it a garden state and all. Of course, I hope someone checks out her links with the Alaskan Independence Party (a group of far, far right nutjobs who want to secede from America and be their own nation). She voted for Buchanan, so that tells you something as well.

http://vacua.blogspot.com Jim Harrison

Palin’s unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. A knocked-up teenager is not a tragedy or particularly surprising, but the news is hardly an argument for her mother’s stand against sex education in high school.

http://itsthe21stcenturystupid.wordpress.com Jim Satterfield

AM, don’t expect an answer from Kurt. He is in fact hopelessly wrong on this as so many other posts he’s made in this thread.

I googled the entire quote and found that it’s not actually a quote from Palin. It was from a commenter on a blog who supports McCain/Palin and thinks that having a rabidly anti-choice president and vice president is OK because somehow magically it’ll all work out. Yeah. Right.

That’s what you get for trusting 2000 year old superstitious beliefs to run a 21st century world. Or a desert religion to run Alaska, for that matter.

spyder

One of the things i love about the way Rove runs a campaign is best exampled by this pregnancy announcement. Palin is named VP candidate, various stories appear challenging the birth of the Down-syndrome child Trig (it seems more likely that the child is that of a 16 yr old Bristol given a large collection of circumstantial evidence). Rove minions denounce the stories (no official declaration by Palin, McSame or other leadership) in blogs and on Fox, then raise this story today about Bristol’s (2nd?) pregnancy. They (GOP/Rove cadre) claim this was necessary to rebut the lies of the first grandchild story. But at no point, so far, have any of them official denied the parentage of Trig. It is beyond denial of denial, but rather ad hominem attacks on bloggers while releasing this new story about a real pregnancy. How very clever to add a “planned” pregnancy to the campaign mix as a means of distracting negative publicity.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/sean/ Sean

The claim that Sarah Palin isn’t Trig’s mother is false. Bristol Palin is currently five months pregnant, and Trig was born in April; you do the math. Even if it were true, it’s not the kind of thing we should be trafficking in, okay?

Elliot

Re: Palin’s membership in the AIP

New GOP convention slogan

“Country or Alaska First” (your choice)

e.

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisy rose

Troy, #92

He is the Answerer,
What can be answer’d he answers. and what cannot be answer’d he shows
how it can not be answer’d

bluegurl-redstate

How can you say that Palin “balances career and family”. Anytime you leave your 4 month old for your own selfish career ambitions is horrible parenting especially since her downs syndrome baby needs stability to thrive. Her stupid stance on abstinence only education is exactly why she now has a pregnant 17 yr old. If being a parent too early isn’t bad enough lets compound the problem by being married tpo early. A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote against a womans right to choose (even in extreme situations like rape and incest). A vote against equal pay for woman and a vote to setback womankind 40yrs. No woman in her right mind should even consider this anything but pandering to female voters. John McCain doesn’t believe in affirmative action until it benefits him.

http://www.thechocolatefish.blogspot.com Yvette

Anytime you leave your 4 month old for your own selfish career ambitions is horrible parenting especially since her downs syndrome baby needs stability to thrive.

John F. Kennedy, Jr. was born just a few weeks after his father was elected to the presidency, but how come we don’t criticize JFK for his selfish career decisions?

Trust me guys, there are good reasons to go after politicians (policy stances come to mind, such as her stance on abortion), but their own personal decisions in parenting or the drama involving their children are not. Let it go.

Eagle Forum Alaska asked gubernatorial candidates in 2006 about various issues. Sarah Palin provided responses. She does not support sex education other than abstinence-only. She does not support abortion except with “a doctor’s determination that the mother’s life would end if the pregnancy continued.” That means no exception for rape, no exception for genetic abnormalities, no exception for non-lethal threats to the mother’s health. And you can judge Palin’s knowledge of history from her respone on the Pledge of Allegiance:

Q. Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

Palin: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

Even Stephan

Considering Palin’s stance on sex education and abortion, I don’t think the GOP is going to get many Hillary supporters crossing over.

CosmicVarianceFan

The sources that you linked in the second update reference sources that tend to be more liberal. I haven’t found any “supporters” making those comments. Some of the sources are The American Prospect, The Washington Monthly, Noah Millman (who states that Cheney was worst VP, Gore was best VP) all seem to be predominantly left-leaning.

Ultimately, when you get down to it … if actions speak louder than words, McCain has one-upped Obama..

Obama talked “change and bipartisanship” and picked a life-long member of the Senate, who has a history of alienating other members of congress. McCain is a self-appointed “maverick” who selected a woman VP with fewer ties to Washington than Obama.

Bri

Jason-
“While Mccain cant think for himself and relies on cue cards or a teleprompter to say anything intelligent.”
Are you serious? Look at Obama? Without his script, he is a bumbling idiot.

Not that he isn’t one WITH his script…..

anon

obama should “one-up” Mccain and nominate a fetus to the supreme court.

Bri

anon-
what the hell is that supposed to mean?

anon

Bri-
you are very sensitive.

actually it was directed at the one-upper @120
who thinks its a contest to nominate the person with
the least experience.

also a fetus on the supreme court would have useful
insights into roe v wade

as a women, i am disgusted that McCain thinks we have so little intelligence that any women would do. As a Hillary supporter, it was based on her platform and intellingence not her gender. Simply throwing another women on the ticket does nothing but insult any intelligent women in this country. If i was undecided before this simply put my vote in the Obama camp!

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Steve Benen at WaMo points out interesting facts relating to the Pledge of Allegiance, making Sarah Palin’s way of defending it jingoistic and uninformed:

Palin: “Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.”

Benen: “… the founding fathers didn’t recite the Pledge of Allegiance. It was written in 1892, and didn’t include the phrase “Under God” until 1954.”

BTW I hear from the bloggers that Palin was an actual member of the Alaska Independence Party in the past – anyone have more scoop?

Even Stephan

BTW I hear from the bloggers that Palin was an actual member of the Alaska Independence Party in the past – anyone have more scoop?

I’m seeing a variety of reports. Some say she was a member, another article said she wasn’t, but her husband had been a registered member.

http://www.kooksunlimited.com peter

thank god i’m not the only one who thought the words “McCain,” “Palin” and “kooks” all fit together naturally. google rules…

Charles Sifers

I guess there is nothing more cynical than a Democrat. The Bush administration gave some of the highest positions in government to well qualified blacks. But all we heard from the Left was “Uncle Tom” jokes.

Now McCain, a well known “maverick” who has stood against the “business as usual” for years has chosen a real outsider with real credentials, and the Left has to reach down to the slimiest filth and inuendo to attack her.

Sara Palin is better qualified to run the country than either McCain or Obama, and John McCain knows the world and its threats better than anyone in Washington.

Together they will make an unstoppable team that will bring us real change that works for America, instead of a change to socialism and the destruction of our economy and culture.

There is absolutely no evidence that either are moralists who will attempt to repeal Roe v Wade,or limit the rights of Americans (unlike Obama), and even if they did, it requires the legislative branch to accomplish that, not the president. Some of you could use a civics lesson.

This is the last gasp of the Left in America. Rot in Hell,

Charles Sifers

KBK

I’m a physicist and an agnostic. I’m voting for McCain/Palin because they are patriots and against corruption. My take is Obama is in it for himself and will do whatever is necessary to win. Does he have /any/ respectable associates at all? If so, who?

The Constitution of these United States – Gives Us freedom – the personal beliefs of those we elect are just that – Why should the government be in every part of our lives – what is wrong with private citizens funding the arts – science – education – ??!!!?? health care ? Infrastructure ? and Oh – On their own terms. We do it already.

Neil B

“Some of you could use a civics lesson.”
Uh, ever hear of the “Supreme Court”? Looks ironic to me …
Please, consider the publication of the anti-Obama books etc. before you start dumping on “the left.” And this wouldn’t have happened to e.g. Kay B. Hutchison et al, and you know it.

Myles

The first thing I would like to say is that I am independant and undesided
I belive that just making it to a point where we are able to have some kind of minority in power, wether it is as vp or the one that counts the most, is a majpr accompleshment for america. I have always had a very poor political enviorment around my parents because I thought that whoever my parents voted for I should, I later relized that this was not the right thing to belive. So this year even though I am still not old enough to vote,actualy it will me 4 more years till I can vote, thought that I would follow the election intently and finaly decide to make my own decision for myself. Isn’t that what America is all about!
I belive that it is now that we can make a diffrence and the young voters of amrica should vote for who they think would run our country thebest not just vote for who is in your dem/ rep party. I know that in my heart who ever wins will have the best interest of America at heart and will do thebest they can to help our country. And even though this is ovestly not a battle of young and old any more but of who is the more qualified. That is he real question, do we want more of the Same, is McCain going to bring somthing more and new to the table or is he going to bring us more trouble? Is Obama just talk or is he really going to do what he says and keep His prommises or is it just talk? While you may know what party you are with, will this election tempt you to switch? These are all valuable questions to keep in mind an remember. And most of all make sure you vote for who you belive will run America the best.

NickP

It is such a sad commentary on the ‘state’ of ‘American politics’ (the ‘air-quotes’ are deliberate) that any of these candidates are taken seriously in the first place. Who has seen an actual policy, a real statement of firm intent that is not mere posturing? Who can distinguish any of these lightweights from some sort of homeopathic distillation of what once was seen to be the essence of real politics? This is all so….so diluted, so lacking in substance, so inimical to the real process of politics, which should be above all else about policy, about what makes the world happen, about whether or not we can afford to keep our homes, or drive to work, or hand over a livable planet to our children and their children. The appeals to flags, to country, to gender, to race, all are symbols, nothing has mass, or matter, or substance deeper than its own self-referential symbolism.
I grieve for the future, for right now I see only a dark pit of pessimism, into which we are being led by our willing noses, avoiding any real debate on real issues. We are distracted by an almost frantic search for something to which we can cling, yearning for something intelligent, even faintly intellectual, that our hungry minds can pick up, weigh, consider, dissect, and comment upon. Such is the paucity of substance that we allow race and gender to have real meaning in our debates. Sarah Palin is a creationist small-town beauty-queen who epitomizes the Peter Principle. She has clearly reached (and perhaps even exceeded) the level of her incompetence; it is dangerous (to every living person) to even consider promoting her to more powerful heights. The image of her finger on the nuclear button makes me tremble in panic. The same is true of any of these candidates, none of whom seem more than tokens, lacking experience, character, depth, or meaning.

http://vacua.blogspot.com Jim Harrison

In every American presidential election, it’s important to recognize that the decision is in the hands of people who celebrate themselves as independents, an extraordinarily ignorant bunch who are easily swayed by the same sort of advertising slogans favored by car companies and burger chains. Were it not so bad for the country and the world, it would be comical to hear these idiots bragging about how superior they are to the politicians, especially when this cynicism is promoted most fervently by the most corrupt of the politicians, who benefit hugely when the honest and the rotten are lumped together. What gets me down the most, though, is the endless flattery lavished on boobs who never had a thought in their heads that wasn’t put there by some PR specialist. Both parties keep up the chant of “you deserve a break today” because they must. In fact, what the self-proclaimed independents most deserve today is a good thrashing. My country has been wretchedly misgoverned for years and, worse, has acted illegality and dishonorably because the dickheads let it happen.

Jason Dick

NIckP,

If you want substance, just take a look at Barack Obama’s Website, Issues section.

Tim

Yes, it is strange seeing pro-creationism post on a science blog. I mean I never heard of this blog before today and I love reading science stuff. Wow the GOP propaganda machine is hitting everything it can find. Strange times we live in….

Jason Dick

Tim,

Uh, you’ll never see Sean or any other of the bloggers here at Cosmic Variance making a pro-creationism post.

Wow! this is horrible, he chooses a lady to attract women voters,oh how pathetic. So if something happen to him(not that i wish but we all know that the man is very old) this unexperienced lady will lead us? i don’t think so. I know for sure that if ever something happens to Obama( what i don’t wish) Joe Biden will be able to lead us. This shows that Obama is more focused on the interest of this country while McCain just want to attract people to get elected. McCain just want to end his life with power that’s all.

mward

Why do people who won’t be objective always start crying like little children when they lose an argument or have their heads handed to them like John McCain and his handlers just did with his selection of Sarah Palin, GOP Govenor of Alaska? Yes, you need to keep up all of the whining about her inexperience in the VP slot, while she has more actual experience that the person that you are promoting at the top of the ticket. Do you not have any sense of this comparison not being analogous at all? Keep in mind, this never would have been able to happen had Hillary Clinton won the Democrat nomination for President or if Barak Obama had vetted her for the Vice presidential slot. Two very bad and consequential decisions and you are blaming the other guy for taking advantage of your own miscues? Try growing up and making wiser decisions for your side and things won’t even get to the point where you start doing crazy-making things and use inane arguments that not only don’t make your point, but they prove to everyone, except you and the friends who reside with you in outer space, that you can’t even be honest with yourself about what just happened and how not to let it happen over and over again.

Elliot

Her speech seemed to be angry and mean-spirited. I don’t think she is going to pull many new voters over with this type of negativity. I was disappointed in her lies about Obama’s tax plan and I think the “bridge to nowhere” flip-flop will come back to bite her.

I think perhaps the worst thing politically, though is that she is making McCain seem even older by contrast.

Apparently this was written by a Bush speechwriter. So much for change.

e.

Kurt

I agree with Elliot in that her speech was very mean spirited at times but isn’t it the job of the VP to be the attack dog for the president? Isn’t that Biden has been doing and one reason the media cited for Obama picking him? We need to be fair.

But I do not agree that she will not pull many new voters into the process.
As much as I do not like this woman’s policies and ideas AT ALL I do think the republicans are going to raise A LOT of money in the next two months and that means they are energized and the money will lead directly to more votes.
Palin has great western appeal in places like Montana and Colorado. She appeals to small town America(who I think will decide this election), the right wing religious base of the party(evangelicals), some women who might not vote or were on the edge and she is seen as a reformer (see change message) and outsider.
It is a high risk but high reward kind of pick!!

Just think about it all she has to do is pull in like 2% of voters towards McCain and it’s OVER for Obama! That is how close this election is right now.

I agree this does make McCain seem older BUT still I think they look very good together and complement each other well (even though I disagree with them on a lot of issues).
McCain comes off as the accomplished elder statesmen and she is like his young ambitious right hand women. I think Biden better be prepared.

Elliot

I would like to raise an issue that I have not seen reported elsewhere.

According to her bio, she eloped with Todd on August 28 1988. Track was born on April 20 1989.

Does this not suggest that she (Sarah) herself might have been pregnant before marriage?

Now I personally do not consider that to be that big a deal from a moral perspective. This is part of life and nothing to be ashamed of.

But doesn’t her actual behavior and purported beliefs seem in contradiction to the point of blatant hypocrisy?

You know I was going to let this lie but given her speech last night, I consider the gloves to be off.

It would have been nice to have a campaign on the issues, but the GOP has decided to make it about personalities.

So be it.

e.

Gino

Funny how so many are trying to call Sarah Palin a hypocrite – why? Because she is a loving Mom and is there for her daughter. Is that a hypocrite? Is it a hypocrite to maybe actually have a different view of life after having lived it? Should she apologize for possibly learning things as she gets older. This is just ridiculous.

In actuality, you are the hypocrites – yes, by the way, Barack Obama’s parents had known each other several months before she found out she was 3 months pregnant and then they got married. Anyone want to have a field day with that one – and yes, she was all of 18 years old.

For someone who is so unqualified and such a poor pick, y’all are sure scared of her. It makes me laugh. You can’t stand that the best Barack could do is Joe Biden – there’s a pick about “change.” Let’s see – 2 of the most liberals in the Senate – I am so excited…Not!

As for it not about the issues – you are right. She didn’t say anything about the issues – did you have the mute button on?

I’ll be honest – Obama speaks well. I disagree with almost all of his views. He has very little experience to be our President. But you can’t admit that – that’s why he picked Biden – experience. But guys like you can’t admit even that. When you’re ready to actually have a civil discussion about the issues – give us a call!

Elliot

Gino,

Obama would have loved to discuss issues. It was McCain campaign who ran this thing into the gutter.

The hypocrisy is that she feels is entitled to do what she wants with her body but wants the government to tell other women what they can’t do with their bodies.
If she had a more mainstream view of this, this would be a non-issue.

e.

Elliot

My favorite fact about the speech last night is that it was written by a male Bush speechwriter for a man. Then just tweaked for Palin.

e.

Kai Noeske

Apparently Palin pressured a city librarian into censoring books and tried to fire her for disagreeing.

This lady looks more and more like one of the insane zealots that have no business in public office.

Jum Blyth

Apparently “Country First” has no meaning for you.
Sarah Palin is the best thing that’s ever happened to tis country (or the world.
Take off the blinders. NO WAY-NO HOW-NOBAMA !!!!!

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

I notice the oddity that many of Sarah Palin’s defenders work up the idea that it matters more how to game the argument and tit for tat with respect to Democrats and how it scores politically than the question, how good a “country first” pick is was and what that shows about John McCain. But first I do agree that we shouldn’t expect she’d need to take care of kids, I think that can be handled by helpers. The real issue if of course what she has to offer and what the issues are – and instead of complaining that critics should judge her on the capabilities, positions, and issues, I challenge her supporters to do that.

As for Obama, yes we already knew he was inexperienced. The whole point about him (and any other inexperienced person) is, what *else* do they offer to make up for that inexperience? Maybe Obama has that extra something, maybe not, but just throwing a merry-go-round of “you too”s won’t tell us what she has – we’ve already heard about Obama’s case for months, agree or like it or not. Now it’s her turn.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/mark/ Mark

Please don’t feed the trolls.

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Well Mark I was hoping that at least some of them could offer a genuine argument supporting their ostensibly terrific VP candidate, that 99% of them hadn’t heard of before last week, instead of pubescent breast-beating and nyah nyah rubbish. BTW here’s something from a thoughtful conservative who really does care about his country and isn’t going to flack for the Republican party’s candidate-whoever-it-is:

He’s concerned about her lack of experience, and whether she has more to offer, in like vein to my previous post. Would any conservatives out there consider taking George Will seriously? Also, Neal Boortz (another libertarian independent who won’t flack for Republicans unless he really agrees with them), and typically ultraconservative and abrasive Michael Savage (whatever he is) have panned her, all for the same type of issues. That’s meaningful.

Roxanne

Poor liberal democrats – lowest rating in a century in congress – a pathetic nobody for their presidential candidate who can talk forever and say absolutely nothing – who has a wife that is not suited to be first dog, let alone first lady. The second person on the Mccain ticket looks a hell of a lot better than the first person on the Obama ticket. Biden has health issues far worse than McCain yet nobody is discussing them. The embedded politicians of Washington don’t like Sarah Palin because she does promise change – change that is positive. She will be an excellent Vice President. And I have news for you socialist liberal idiots – if you are so fond of socialism, move to Russia! It is not your constitutional right to have housing, health care, or income. If you want it, get off your lazy ass and go earn it! Too many black people in the south living on welfare. Why? Because they know how to work the system because it is ALL THEY KNOW! 3rd and 4th generation welfare recipients in the south, something Obama wants to continue to feed! Yeah, right, bring on Obama. He’s for change – but not for the better for America or the people of America – just for bigger government, special interests, reduced national security, higher taxes.. and the list goes on and on and on – yuck. What a bad choice Obama/Biden would be. VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN – the TRUE AMERICAN TICKET!

Roxanne

Oh, and one last thing – don’t believe everything you read – about ANYONE! LOL

Boomerang

I liked Governor Palin befor, I love her now! But sometimes I wonder if
people are actually paying attension. There have been several comments
about Governor Palin as being “anti-choice” which by the way she is not.
She is pro-life. there is a hudge difference, don’t constue the two. If you
are not educated enough to know the difference then please keep your ignorant comments to yourself.

Now that you’ve wound my clock…… Does Senator Obama ever listen to what
comes out of his own mouth? He said today that “they (McCain/Palin) have not
said anything about what there are going to do to change things”. Excuse me sir, but they have said much more about their plan that you have yours.

Give me a break!

Boomerang

Obama’s voting record is dismal. I just checked it and went through it, all of it. Man, I would be ashamed to have this type of record at my job. I wouldn’t have it long if I did.

Bottom line: Obama had 566 issues to vote on thus far. He has voted “yea” 252 times (45%) and “nea” 87 times (15%). And I can’t believe when you look closely at each issue and how he voted it’s a joke no matter which side you stand on. There is no consistancy to his voting.

But worst of all he did not vote at all 227 times (40%). Is that what he intends to do as President of the United States? Just show up 40% of the time?

Kai Noeske

Surprising how many of the comments are parrotting right wing talking points, including the hateful comments, and do not back their accusations up with any facts. I thought this blog twas mostly frequented by people people who think for themselves and critical.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/sean/ Sean

Essentially none of those comments are from regular readers. Like many other blogs, we are being located by folks searching for “McCain Palin” or some version thereof, and then dumping in their prepared talking points. The McCain campaign encourages it.

deeppeace

So Gov. Palin thinks “misinformation and flat-out lies must be corrected.” Apparently the only things meeting those descriptions are facts about her and her history. The gross exaggerations, misrepresentations and baiting that she spewed at the convention don’t qualify? Nice try, Chickie-poo. You want truth? You’ll get truth. I’m the first to call out Obama’s supporters for their missteps, too, so don’t think I’m one-sided in this. It just sickens me to hear obvious distortions from the podium, and then to watch the red-meat crowd salivate in response.

deeppeace

You’re right, boomerang, there is a ‘hudge’ difference between being ‘pro-life’ and ‘anti-choice.’ And you can be both.

‘Pro-life’ means you respect living things. Like babies AFTER they’re born. Like school children whose programs are cut because their school systems didn’t toe the conservative line. Like young women who don’t get treatment for STDs because the local Planned Parenthood office has lost its funding due to government cuts. Like mothers who have to leave home in the dark and return in the dark to work to maintain state assistance. Like 100 million Americans with no health insurance. Like women who earn $0.71 to every $1.00 men earn FOR LIKE WORK. Like injured veterans returning to subhuman medical care or get discharged for performance so the military doesn’t have to pay legitimate medical benefits. Like senior citizens who couldn’t pay their utility bills while Kenny-Boy Lay got rich. Like foreign nationals held for over 5 years in Guantanamo without representation. Like Americans whose civil liberties are chewed up and spit out every day by a Bush administration that calls itself ‘pro-life.’

‘Anti-choice’ means you don’t think women are capable of making rational decisions about what happens within their own bodies, and so feel compelled to make those decisions for them. Sound familiar?

A compassionate conservative is an oxymoron. Look it up.

deeppeace

If Charles Sifers is still here, he might want to consider this: The next POTUS is likely to appoint as many as three Supremes in quick succession. That could absolutely affect Roe v Wade.

From his own Website: “John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned…”.

And as for diminished civil liberties? Bush has already been working at that, and McSame shows no inclination to reverse Duhbya’s ‘successes.’ The Republicans rail against ‘activist judges’ until it comes to their own agenda, then it’s full-speed-ahead.

Don’t you realize that YOUR liberties are at risk, too? It’s not just ‘the bad guys’ whose phone calls they listen to.

Iusedtobe republican

I read from response #159. Boomerang that Obama has a dismal voting record? What about Johnny boy? He has missed 407 (63.8%) of the votes this year! Also he has voted with the party 88.7% of the time, a real maverick, 11.3% of the time! Barak Obama has missed 270 votes (45.5%) of the votes this year. So using the Obama missed this, missed that they all have, and Palin has missed no votes, because she has never been in the position of being able to vote! And for people (republicans mainly) who at this point is going to say, what a crappy choice she is! None of you who vote with the party lines! It would undermine the party and expose the truth that she is a bad choice. Lets face it Biden is technically speaking in terms of years the only experienced one.

mario vitale

obama is going for president ,he has never run a bussiness,a city, or a state.!..palin has ….who has the most experiance? he is going for the #1 job who should we be worried about the most? your worried if mcCain dies thats a if…obama wins then what??? no experiance give me abreak that for real

Deanna

I find it interesting that apparently you all only really like to hear from people who agree with you. I stumbled across this website while researching the candidates. I imagine the “trolls” are conservatives. It amazes me that the feminist of this country who have fought so hard for women’s rights would work so hard to tear down a female. We don’t all have to agree with everything either party says, we do have to respect thier opinion. I am a nurse- I see the problems in health care, I see the poverty. I also see a lot of people out there with their hands out, begging for someone to give them something for nothing. I work hard, my husband works hard, we raise kind, responsible children, and our reward is paying for other people who do nothing to get all the benefits. I believe that the system is broken. Young women should not be rewarded with more welfare money for each child they have. I witness parents who choose not to get married because she can keep benefits if she stays unmarried- and he can lay on her couch. I want a president who isn’t afraid to say “enough is enough” if you want benefits you will serve your community in some fashion. FDR was onto something when he put men to work during the depression and they sent their checks home to the wives to support the family. Nothing should be free and it seems far too many Americans expect to be taken care of from cradle to grave.

Jason

Check out this youtube video! Very interesting! Hot off the press.. No time to HTML code link Copy paste…Cya

Dear deeppeace, Just an fyi…we exist :). I’m a life long vegetarian, 10 yr yoga practitioner/instructor, 20 yr animal rescue volunteer, HS teacher, CPA, wife, mother, and life long conservative from the heartland of America, relocated 15 yrs in a major metropolitan city. (Btw, please do not assume Conservative and Republican are necessarily one in the same.)
I am a conservative, because I believe in ‘conserving government’ at the request of our forefathers, as evidenced in the magnificent document they penned…The Constitution. Have you seriously studied The Constitution, or even in read it in full deeppeace? If so, then you know there is absolutely nothing in the Constitution guaranteeing health care, or any other “entitlement” program”, to every US citizen, let alone illegal aliens (who are included in the uninsured numbers quoted). Anyway, do tell…why in the world would anyone want, or think the federal government could provide high quality national health care, in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner? Consider the bankrupt status of the single, most expensive federal debt, SS and Medicare, (which Libertarians and some Constitutional lawyers, often argue is illegally funded via FICA tax). Which prompts the next question, who is going to pay for our substandard, national healthcare? And yes, it will be substandard to the system we have now, as flawed as it may be. The idea of nationalized healthcare is a product of Socialism, and as has been proven over and over again, “Socialism”, aka “the great equalizer”, renders excellence obsolete. Thank God, (whomever he, she, or it may be for you), the USA is a democracy – built on excellence and ingenuity – often prompted by competition and rewarded through capitalism.
Although I certainly do not always agree with John McCain, I do agree with him that Roe -V- Wade is a flawed decision…because it simply isn’t a federal law issue as mandated by the Constitution. And although it’s highly unlikely, should Roe -v- Wade be overturned, the laws governing abortion simply go back to the states, where they rightfully belong. With a great mix of liberal and conservative states comprising our great nation, pro-life, pro-choice, and pro-abortion advocates all, will continue to be well represented.
I’m compelled to address the statement, “‘Pro-life’ means you respect living things. Like babies AFTER they’re born.” I won’t even bother to belabor the obvious…for I’m sure deeppeace recognizes that babies are alive and kickin’…long before they are “born” …just ask any mom if you have doubts. More importantly, this statement reminds me that Obama doesn’t support this notion…that a baby deserves the respect of life…even after it’s born, if his/her mother intended for her baby to die during an abortion. Shocking, isn’t it? But it’s absolutely true. While serving in the IL state senate, Obama remained the lone holdout in three separate attempts to pass into law, the “Born Alive Infant’s Protection Act”. This law requires that usual and customary medical care be given to babies who are born alive, after surviving botched, labor-induced, late term abortions. Even the staunches supporters of abortion rights, like B Boxer of the US Senate, found the alternative practice of placing these living babies “out of sight” to die, like in a “soiled linen closet”, to be just a bit too inhumane for the leader of the free world. The exact same law passed unanimously in the US Senate. Check it out for yourself Kai Noeske…read the transcript of Obama’s detailed objections, “but there’s, let’s say, movement or some indication that, in fact, they’re not just coming out limp and dead…”, available on the IL State Gov’t official website: pp. 31-34, http://www.ilga.gov/senate/transcripts/strans92/ST040402.pdf.

ProudAmerican

Part 2, cont.
Since not one person on the entire blog has nailed the reasons McCain chose Palin, I’ll enlighten you. McCain had a weak standing with Republicans, conservatives, and the religious anti-abortion crowd (which includes traditional Catholics, Jews, and evangelical), and he needed to shore up his base. The common factor for all groups is always smaller government and lower taxes, for which Palin has a proven record of accomplishment as both Mayor and Gov. She also satisfies the religious crowd by proudly “walking the walk” front and center, but she doesn’t insist her views become law so she doesn’t ward off the more liberal Republicans and Conservatives. Moreover, her executive record of clearing corruption, and creating a surplus budget, (in short order) with just “ethics and grit”, is tangible change that speaks for itself, (…change that obviously resonates well with the people of AK where she holds a 76% approval rating – what politician can say that??). Neil B, I am a big fan of G Will, but my take on the article you linked was not so much his concern for her lack of experience, as he admits Palin has more executive experience than the other three, but rather if she’s a knowledgable, authentic conservative, who understands the constitutionally imposed limits of the federal government. Thus, my reference above to documented tangible change of reformed and reduced government…, not to mention, how many politicians would really sell “their” private jet on Ebay, and fire their free chef if they had 5 kids…except a committed conservative??? One of Palin’s democrat opponents in AK, with whom she later joined forces to exile corrupt republicans, is quoted as saying, “do not underestimate that woman (Palin), because I guarantee it will come back to bite you in the ass if you do”.

Jason Dick

Deanna in #167,

It amazes me that the feminist of this country who have fought so hard for women’s rights would work so hard to tear down a female.

It’s probably because she is diametrically opposed to nearly every political stance they hold. The idea that they’ll vote for her merely because they share vaginas is just ludicrous. Most women in this country are much smarter than that, and actually care about the issues.

Deanna

Jason Dick #171

If you noted my next line

We don’t all have to agree with everything either party says, we do have to respect thier opinion.

I just think Sarah deserves the same respect that feminist give to those they agree with on every issue. It is a crying shame that the movement that started in this country to advance women has been reduced to whether you do or do not believe in a woman’s right to end a pregnancy! Why don’t we concentrate more on convincing women to hold their bodies in high regards and not share them with every joe that comes along?

Yes, I have studied the Constitution—in high school, I found it boring because I had a boring teacher. In college, my prof taught it as the Bible: Most of us choose six or eight favored passages to quote and conveniently ignore those that disagree with our persuasion. In the last eight years (wonder why?) I picked it up again and found it pretty interesting. For instance: Nowhere in it does it say corporate ‘ingenuity’ gets to rape its stockholders or its employees’ pensions. Nowhere in it does it say it’s okay to torture prisoners. Nowhere does it say Christian holidays are national holidays. Nowhere does it say that signing statements should allow a President to ignore legislation passed by Congress. Nowhere does it say that you get to tell me what I can do in my own home. Wait, wait—isn’t that one of YOUR team’s cheers? “Smaller government! No activist judges!” Oh, I see—that’s only “No activist PROGRESSIVE judges.”

When I referred to caring for babies after they are born, I meant breathing, sentient beings who depend on loving, capable parents to thrive. In your heart, you know that’s what I meant, but you, typically, chose to misinterpret and then turn the argument to your one-note song. Sen. Obama’s opposition to the ‘Born Alive…Act’ came from his concern that it was a backdoor attempt to undermine Roe by frightening practitioners and facilities into denying women anything but YOUR chosen outcome. And it was.

For your information, I am a mother, several times over. I have never chosen to terminate a pregnancy. So don’t go assuming anything there, either.

You also choose to misinterpret my mentioning ‘100 million Americans without insurance.’ Would you please point out to me where I said the government should either provide or pay for their health care or care for illegal aliens? You can’t. CONservatives choose to put words into the mouths of those who dare to disagree.

I wasn’t present when the founders wrote the Constitution, so they could request nothing of me. What I see in their work is some sections of intentionally vague language because they were wise enough to know that their current awareness couldn’t prepare for every future outcome. It was designed for interpretation, ProudAmerican, not for rigid adherence. The problems arise when the parties in power choose to interpret it to fit a narrow, judgmental bias.

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Some points to consider:

1. I saw the complaint about “Young women should not be rewarded with more welfare money for each child they have.” Well, you have a point, and the Welfare reform already happen in the 90s (B Clinton signed it.) I am not sure just how it works now, those points sound outdated but in any case: the dependent deduction and child tax credit on ordinary tax forms *are* a form of welfare, because they are subsidies that shift money to those with children, *even up to income of 100k.* Why should childless people earning 30k etc. provide welfare for the kids of people making three times their income?

2. As for the Constitution not having rights to health care, etc: Yes, not “enumerated”, but the Ninth Amendment makes such strict construction impossible. It says, “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” Since it does say “the people”, then not finding a right in the USC cannot be used as evidentiary against it being a viable right for the basis of policy. Hence, A9 prevents claims that States clearly do have the right to ban birth control (as in Griswold v. Connecticut) from being based on not finding a right such as privacy in the USC, but of course it doesn’t prove that or any other particular right – it has to be debated, that’s why strict construction is impossible.

3. It is odd and hypocritical for detractors to have complained about Obama not having much experience, being elevated just due to speeches, books, etc. – and then turn around and listen to one speech from Governor Sarah Palin, and go nuts over how wonderful she is, etc. Many of you think, now you can’t criticize Palin because Obama isn’t well experienced, but the argument works the other way around: Now it doesn’t make sense anymore to criticize Obama for that, since McCain-Palin is presenting it as not worth worrying about. (Yeah, “executive experience” does help, but McCain doesn’t have it either, and it’s an apples and oranges trade-off between State executive and National legislative – and Obama is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.)

ProudAmerican, try this column by Charles Krauthammer as well:http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/08/the_palin_puzzle.html
He makes a point similar to G. Will, that Palin undercuts McCain’s original advantage.
I think Sarah Palin is a “buzz” choice, designed to needle an opposition and stir up red-meat enthusiasts etc. Such a choice is not compatible with “putting country first” in principle, even if she isn’t an *awful* choice (and I’m not saying she is.)
PS: I can’t wait to see Tina Fey!

Elliot

Impressions of McCain’s Acceptance Speech

I have to say that although he isn’t a great speaker by any means, I think
he effectively delivered the clear meme of his speech last night was “I
paid my dues I deserve it. And I deserve it more than Obama”. Like the
majority of Americans, I acknowledge his service and sacrifice. I thought
that his plea was heartfelt. But I think they are trying to play on our
guilt, rather than give us a substantive reason to choose him. My
overwhelming impression is that he is eight years too late. And now he
wants and expects America to make up for that because it’s his turn.

It’s sad. Like the 40 year old NBA player who sees his career coming to a
close and all he wanted was one championship ring.

Well the supreme irony here is that it is the same people that stole his
chance eight years ago by their dirty tricks in the South Carolina primary
that are running his campaign now.

So I say. It was Bush and Rove who denied McCain a legitimate chance to be
President. So John take it up with them. There is too much at stake for us
to feel badly that history has passed McCain by.

e.

deeppeace

And I think she pretty much cancels the GOP’s ‘rock star’ complaint against Obama. If ever there were a more vapid national candidate, it hasn’t been in my loooonnnng lifetime. She makes Dan Quayle look scholarly.

And before anyone gets huffy, I’d say that if the name were SAM Palin. Gender-neutral here. But then, a ‘Sam Palin’ wouldn’t deliver the same venom, would he?

Tammy

Palin more experienced? Uh-huh. Let’s do a little comparison. Here’s a quick wikipedia exerpt. Take issue with it if you can.

Palin: After being selected as the runner up in the 1984 Miss Alaska contest, Palin served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska City Council from 1992 to 1996, was elected mayor of Wasilla in 1996, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 2002.

After charging ethical violations by state Republican Party leaders, she won election in 2006 by first defeating the incumbent governor in the Republican primary, then a former Democratic Alaskan governor in the general election.

Obama: A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he served as president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. He taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. Following an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, he announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate in January 2003. After a primary victory in March 2004, Obama delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. He was elected to the Senate in November 2004 with 70% of the vote.

As a member of the Democratic minority in the 109th Congress, he helped create legislation to control conventional weapons and to promote greater public accountability in the use of federal funds. He also made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. During the 110th Congress, he helped create legislation regarding lobbying and electoral fraud, climate change, nuclear terrorism, and care for returned U.S. military personnel. After announcing his presidential campaign in February 2007, Obama emphasized withdrawing American troops from Iraq, energy independence, decreasing the influence of lobbyists, and promoting universal health care as top national priorities.

Obama has more experience and far higher quality experience. Palin was governor of a homogenous, untaxed state funded by federal handouts and the oil industry (prior to which she was unemployed for 3 years), and managed as mayor of a tiny town of 5500 managed to rack up an almost $20 million debt. After which the town hired an administrator to do the, you know, actual executive managing stuff.

Oppose the bridge to nowhere? She was all for it until the national criticism flared and the feds pulled funding. Creationist, anti-choice radical (yes, also in cases of rape and incest, only excepting where the mother’s life is in jeopardy), who threatened to fire the town librarian for not being willing to censor books. Abstinence only, no sex education in schools (look how well that worked out).

But by all means defend this in the name of identity politics. You certainly have become the laughing stock of the educated world.

Jason Dick

Deanna,

This relies upon the specious charge that feminists are failing to show Palin due respect.

Vern

I just have one Question. Is Obama going to have enough time to care for his children when he is President? I hope so.

http://www.dorianallworthy.com daisy rose

Read this and weep

As an Alaskan, I am writing to give all of you some information on
Sarah Palin, Senator McCain’s choice for VP. As an Alaska voter, I
know more than most of you about her and, frankly, I am horrified that
he picked her.

The most accurate description of her is red neck. Her husband works in
the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay and races snow mobiles. She is a life
time member of the NRA and has worked tirelessly to allow
indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in Alaska, particularly wolves and
bears. She has spent millions of Alaska state dollars on aerial
hunting of these predators from helicopters and airplanes, dollars
that should have been spent, for example, on Alaska’s failing school
system.We have the lowest rate of high school graduation in the
country. Not all of you may think aerial predator hunting is so bad,
but how anyone (other than Alaska wolf-haters, of which there are
many, most without teeth), could think this use of funds is
appropriate is beyond me. If you want to know more about the aerial
hunting travesty, let me know and I will send some links to
informative web sites.

She has been a strong supporter of increased use of fossil fuels, yet
the McCain campaign has the nerve to say she has “green” policies. The
only thing green about Sarah Palin is her lack of experience. She has
consistently supported drilling in ANWR, use of coal-burning power
plants (as I write this, a new coal plant is being built in her home
town of Wasilla), strip mining, and almost anything else that will
unnecessarily exploit the diminishing resources of Alaska and destroy
its environment.

Prior to her one year as governor of Alaska, she was mayor of Wasilla,
a small red neck town outside Anchorage.The average maximum education
level of parents of junior high school kids in Wasilla is 10th grade.
Unfortunately, I have to go to Wasilla every week to get groceries and
other supplies, so I have continual contact with the people who put
Palin in office in the first place. I know what I’m talking about.
These people don’t have a concept of the world around them or of the
serious issues facing the US. Furthermore, they don’t care. So long as
they can go out and hunt their moose every fall, kill wolves and bears
and drive their snow mobiles and ATVs through every corner of the
wilderness, they’re happy. I wish I were exaggerating.

Sarah Palin is currently involved in a political corruption scandal.
She fired an individual in law enforcement here because she didn’t
like how he treated one of her relatives during a divorce. The man’s
performance and ability weren’t considered; it was a totally personal
firing and is currently under investigation. While the issue isn’t
close to the scandal of Ted Steven’s corruption, it shows that Palin
isn’t “squeaky clean” and causes me to think there ay be more issues
that could come to light. Clearly McCain doesn’t care.

When you line Palin up with Biden, the comparison would be laughable
if it weren’t so serious. Sarah Palin knows nothing of economics
(admittedly a weak area for McCain), or of international affairs,
knows nothing of national government, Social Security, unemployment,
health care systems – you name it. The idea of her meeting with heads
of foreign governments around the world truly frightens me.

In an increasingly dangerous world, with the economy in shambles in
the US, Sarah Palin is uniquely UNqualified to be vice president. John
McCain is not a young man. Should something happen to him such that
the vice president had to step in, it would destroy our country and
possibly the world to have someone as inexperienced and inappropriate
as Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin is a cheap shot by McCain to try
to get Hillary supporters to vote for him. when McCain introduced her
today, Palin had the nerve to compare herself with Hillary and
Geraldine Ferraro. Sarah Palin, you are no Hillary Clinton.

To those of you who, like me, supported Hilary and were upset that she
did not get the nomination, please don’t think that Sarah Palin is a
worthy substitute. If you supported Hillary, regardless of what you
think the media and the democratic party may have done to undermine
her campaign, the person to support now is Obama, not Sarah Palin. To
those of you who are independent or undecided, don’t let the choice of
Palin sway you in favor of McCain. Choosing her shows how unqualified
McCain is to be president. To those of you who are conservative, I
guess you have no choice for president. But please try to see how the
poor choice of Palin tells us a great deal about McCain’s judgment.
While the political posturing inherent in the choice of Palin is
obvious, the more serious issue is the fact that the VP is, literally,
a heartbeat away from the presidency. Sarah Palin is totally and
unequivocally unqualified to be vice president, let alone president.

I know this is a lengthy and emotional email, but the stakes are high.
I thought it might help for all of you, regardless of political
affiliation, to know something about Palin from someone who has to
live with her administration in Alaska on a daily basis.

Reply

Reply to all

Forward

sonomabob

Any way to get this to a wider distribution?

Bush with long hair.

Kai Noeske

McCain’s choice of Palin as an ultra-right wing, religious extremist, anti-environment, anti-education, anti-science, … VP candidate buries any hope for bipartisan politics should he be elected. Yet another reason to put the money on the Dem ticket.

http://voicesofreason.info Neil B. ?

Daisy rose, put your post up on Washington Monthly, Kos (make up your own diary, it will be popular because you have some closer experience to this woman), Atrios, HuffPo, Salon, etc. I would like to see links about the aerial hunting, since I want to know if she literally pulled triggers from up there or just supported and funded it.

For the record, Gov. Palin did not sell ‘her’ jet on eBay. She listed it three times. It failed to sell, so she finally sold it through a broker to a contributor of her campaign for a half-million-dollar loss.

deeppeace

Even I could balance a state budget in a state that’s swimming in money. That’s no challenge. But didn’t she leave little Wasilla drowning in long-term debt?

http://lablemminglounge.blogspot.com/ Lab Lemming

Daisy, you’ve almost talked me into voting for this woman.
-Dr. Redneck, Ph.D.

John Knight

One logical conclusion from this discussion: America would be better if fewer academics voted.

I mean … honestly. Obama is wrong on big government, wrong on appeasement; wrong on economics; wrong on social issues; wrong, wrong, wrong on every issue. And he’s a lackey for the Daley Machine.

OK, I hate to do this, but daisy rose, are you Lyda Green? First, Gov. Palin wants to push Alaska and the U.S. towards not having to pay terrorist countries billions of dollars for oil to fill our nation’s need. We can drill safely in Alaska and all over the country without hurting the environment and it’s already been proven. Next, the political corruption scandal? Are you serious? Trooper Wooten tasered his stepson, went to a bar in his squad car, got in a fight, then drove home DRUNK IN HIS SQUAD CAR!!! Wooten got 5 days suspension. She had every legal right to fire Monegan for not canning this guy. Do your research. And as for Obama bin Biden, oh wait, I guess they have alot of experience. Obama was a community organizer for crying out loud!!! That’s enough to qualify him for leader of the free world. Get real daisy. Or should I say Lyda? People, don’t be fooled by this heartfelt “story” by or friend who goes by the name daisy rose. She probably lives in Talkeetna, a largely drug inhabited town on the outskirts of the Gov. Palin’s town of Wasilla. I hope you all vote based on facts and values and experience, none of which Obama-bin-Biden or miss daisy rose have.

OMG you are totally right – Sarah Palin really does have a *big Picture* idea about *everything*!

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/mark/ Mark

Again, please don’t feed the trolls.

Vern

Am I in the wrong room? Are you all hippies?

Count Iblis

First, Gov. Palin wants to push Alaska and the U.S. towards not having to pay terrorist countries billions of dollars for oil to fill our nation’s need. We can drill safely in Alaska and all over the country without hurting the environment and it’s already been proven.

It is far cheaper to import oil from the Mid East. Palin and McCain want to make Iraq a model country free of terrorism. Buying oil from Iraq is far cheaper than drilling in Alaska. So, McCain/Palin are inconsistent here. Surely “Winning in Iraq” does not mean allowing it to become a “terrorist country”?

Also, the US uses 20% of the world’s oil production while the US only has 3% of the world’s oil reserves. So, being self sufficient for your oil isn’t feasible.

I want to add to Count Iblis’ point, that even if drilling is safe (a claim no more warranting glib acceptance without good proof than the claim it still wouldn’t be, and don’t forget the vulnerability to hurricanes!), growing demand for energy means we must work hard to find alternatives and not just drill. Please read the new book Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman about what we must do to achieve success in the future. On NPR today, Tom equated “Drill, baby, drill” with being at the threshold of the computer age, and chanting for IBM Selectric typewriters, as in “Type, baby, type.”

Finally, her remark that “I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities” is a put-down not just of community organizers, but of anyone who has a job at all. Why? Because she’s saying; if you have a job to do, tasks to accomplish (and organizers do) but aren’t a government official (I guess), you don’t really have “responsibilities.” How ironic!

BTW, Google search (I wonder if McCain has learned to do that yet? Those running the Republican Convention may not have, considering their putting up Walter Reed School in CA instead of Walter Reed Hospital as intended) shows that I was first to come up with the moniker “McBushlin” for the McCain-Palin ticket. I hope it catches on.

(Iblis – can we expect a post soon at your blog?)

Count Iblis

Neil:

Iblis – can we expect a post soon at your blog?

I planned to write about a new idea half a year ago, but I was too busy. I’ll write it up tonight…

Yes, but a governor is a full time job, state senators only have 72 legislative days a year in Illinois. In the US Senate, it’s about 100 days. Governor is good experience. Noone dissed Howard Dean about his post, and Vermont is smaller and has less people and a tiny economy. Why wasn’t that questioned?
She hasn’t used her office to legislate her views into people’s homes and lives. For example, she doesn’t support spousal benefits for gays but did veto a law to ban them saying it was unconstitutional.

She’s terrific. Yes, she’s conservative, but what did you expect on the GOP ticket. She’s wonderful, and don’t think women aren’t going to vote her way-after all, it worked for African American voters in the dem primary. Women may have learned a thing or two…

Earthquakes are terrific. Forest fires are terrific. Tsunamis are terrific.

As in “horror” = “horrific.”

Vern

Deeppeace, I feel sorry for you and your kids, if you should be so fortunate to have any. Are you from Talkeetna? Or Houston? Please, for the sake of our future generations, put the pipe down and realize that everybody has an opinion and although you don’t have to agree with it, you have to respect it. It would be alot easier on the rest of us if you just went off into the woodlands of Talkeetna and started hugging trees. After all, isn’t that what this is all about?

yo

it would be a lot easier on me if you took up the pipe and stopped typing.

deeppeace

Vern–

I’m confused. You think I’m Alaskan? You think I’m the only one who disagrees with someone else’s opinions here? You think ___I___ am disrespectful? Are we reading the same content?

I feel passionately about the Constitution that has been so flagrantly ignored (if not outright trashed) for the last eight years. I feel passionately about the human rights that the current administration finds so annoying. If not in this forum, certainly in others, I have been equally reactive to posts by liberals as by conservatives.

I do believe there are at least as many views of current events as there are viewers. I do understand that people disagree. I do feel, just as others here do, that I have an equal right to speak freely about my perspective on the country that we claim we love. If you don’t like reading my words, skip over them.

Elliot

PFS,

If it’s a full time job how could she spend 312 days working from home and claiming the per diem from the state? Real working people would be fired for fraudulently submitting travel reimbursements when they are working at home.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

Elliot

Slide2112

The party’s over. Obama is done. Next time, please check the contents of the suite, it really should have something inside it.

yo

well, i guess thats that.
if some anaonymous poster on some random blog
says its over, i guess its over.

contents of the “suite”? are you staying at a hotel?

Slide2112

I laughed.

Vern

I was just kidding deeppeace. I’m all for Obama. I just wanted to get you going because I knew I could get you fired up. Obama bin Biden 2008!!! Sounds alot like Osama bin Laden, doesn’t it? Obama bin Biden!!! I feel sorry for everyone who has the unfortunate opportunity to actually take time to read what deeppeace has to say here on this fine forum. GO VIKINGS!!!

oh, Vern. Your witty comments make this like the Algonquin Round Table.

jpd

GO TROLLS!

jpd

GO EXCLAMATION MARKS!!!!!

ts

We the rest of the people on Earth are happy as long as you American people don’t make us lose confidence in you guys yet again…

Isla

As if Obama has any experience to go by! He has none but charisma and his skin colour to support him, other things they make out for him are mere excuse to make him look american and cover the terrorista in him, do not be fooled – the only change Obama’s sure to bring on is that for the worst! If you love the country, vote for the one who has the integrity to truly care for the country, and the accomplishments to show for it, as well as the background.

Consider alone the muslim, terrorists and criminal associations Obama has in the last 10 years and tell me if you would want that kind to run the most powerful office in the world, kinda like giving hitler another chance to dominate. Heaven forbid!

Jason Dick

Isla, your comments would be funny if not for the fact that a sizeable percentage of the US population actually believes that crap. You really shouldn’t believe everything you hear.

http://shep.ca Shep

Folks, I liked “King Ralph” too, but it was NOT A DOCUMENTARY.

deeppeace

You wear me out, Vern. How’d I do?

Congrats on getting me fired up. I am. Especially on the days around 9/11, I am so upset by people ‘memorializing’ the date and the place and those lost but then doing nothing that will actually protect our country. All they care about is the next season of American Idol or why their newest iPhone doesn’t work better than their last one.

In some ways I want to say ‘you get what you deserve,’ but outcomes aren’t individually specific enough for that. If 50.000001% are morons, the whole nation pays the price.

anon

deeppeace, dont give up the fight.
my method is to prod the trolls,
i figure the more they write here where
we know they are insane, the less they
write elsewhere

Sybil

All you need to know about Sarah is that the American people love her.
Mrs. McCain is too fragile to serve as first lady and Sarah was chosen not so much as Vice President, (although that is not a terribly difficult job), but as a surrogate first lady.
Pre-requisite: Attractive, smooth talker, able to hold her liquor, (now that is what they should be asking her—–pulling out her gun and shooting a dignitary’s wife if NOT politically correct).
Experience required: None.
Voila–mavericks. Promised you silly people a change and you got it—Don’t need to change anything else. The campaign is not over yet and you are already being lied to.
I say the Road to the White House should have to cross the Bridge to Nowhere.

james foster

i believe if john mccain will loose this campain if does not start attcking obama with his links to accorn and wright and tell the middle class what he plans to do for them and i dont care about bush tax cuts they havent worked for me or any one in ohio if he wants my vote i want to know what his doing for main street not corpirations they dont pay my bills i do and sarah palin needs to spend more time talkin about our problems not alaska she now has 49 states to woory about she a great pick for us now let her show it stop hidden her put her on orielly and she will past my test and the publc how you want there vote. miss palin is a strong women and she needs to just say that she is learning forgien affairs and will learn from you as she should and dont let up on obama he is a liar and a teift now show it tell the public about hi mbeing legal council for accorn and that they have alot of need for him to be president and they are a fraud and was a part of that. we need you as president so show us you want it and take him out now and forever out on the defence about his lies about you and sarah thank you both and god bless you and your familys

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Cosmic Variance

Random samplings from a universe of ideas.

About Sean Carroll

Sean Carroll is a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Physics at the California Institute of Technology. His research interests include theoretical aspects of cosmology, field theory, and gravitation. His most recent book is The Particle at the End of the Universe, about the Large Hadron Collider and the search for the Higgs boson.
Here are some of his favorite blog posts, home page, and email: carroll [at] cosmicvariance.com .